Siri May Pose A Threat To Search Engines

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We like to think of Google as something that, at least in computer terms, really doesn’t change. Google has been around through most of the internet expansion, and probably will be for some time to come. But one report suggests that, if technologies like Siri catch on, Google may have a problem on its hands.

One analyst, Nigam Arora, points out that, prior to Siri, if you wanted to search for a restaurant near you, you’d go through Google or the like. And then, while in there, you would have likely clicked on an ad or an entry, making Google a little cash in return for the impression. But now, with Siri, when asking for a restaurant in the area, Siri might check Yelp’s database instead, cutting Google out of the equation. Not exactly a big deal if one person does it, of course, but if it catches on, it could be a destabilizing force.

Worse yet for Google, Arora took a study he conducted with 40 users (admittedly a very small, and probably statistically feeble, sample) and discovered that all 40 respondents saw no need to check Google, if Siri could answer the question instead. Meanwhile, 27 out of the 40 hadn’t conducted a search on Google since they’d bought their iPhone 4S with Siri.

Again, we’re talking about small–very small–groups of people doing this. But the idea isn’t so much a problem today as it may be a problem down the line, especially if Siri, or the Siri concept, catches on. This is leading some to wonder if Siri is, in fact, designed to be a Google killer by taking out one of Google’s primary sources of revenue, simple searches.

Disquieting? You bet. If the trends stay as they currently present themselves, Google could have a serious problem in ten years or so. But what do you guys think here? Is the thought that Siri could knock Google out of its station a bit of alarmism? Or does Siri represent a whole new way to do searches that takes search engines out of the equation? No matter what you think, we love hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!