Google unveils major upgrade to search algorithm

Google has unveiled an upgrade to the way
it interprets users' search requests.
The new algorithm, codenamed Hummingbird,
is the first major upgrade for three years.
It has already been in use for about a month,
and affects about 90% of Google searches.
At a presentation on Thursday, the search
giant was short on specifics but said
Hummingbird is especially useful for longer
and more complex queries.
Google stressed that a new algorithm is
important as users expect more natural and
conversational interactions with a search
engine - for example, using their voice to
speak requests into mobile phones, smart
watches and other wearable technology.
Hummingbird is focused more on ranking
information based on a more intelligent
understanding of search requests, unlike its
predecessor, Caffeine, which was targeted at
better indexing of websites.
It is more capable of understanding concepts
and the relationships between them rather
than simply words, which leads to more fluid
interactions. In that sense, it is an extension of
Google's "Knowledge Graph" concept
introduced last year aimed at making
interactions more human.
In one example, shown at the presentation, a
Google executive showed off a voice search
through her mobile phone, asking for pictures
of the Eiffel Tower. After the pictures
appeared, she then asked how tall it was. After
Google correctly spoke back the correct
answer, she then asked "show me pictures of
the construction" - at which point a list of
images appeared.

Big payoffs?
However, one search expert cautioned that it
was too early to determine Hummingbird's
impact. "For me this is more of a coming out
party, rather than making me think 'wow', said
Danny Sullivan, founder of Search Engine
Land.
"If you've been watching this space, you'd
have already seen how they've integrated it
into the [predictive search app] Google Now
and conversational search.
"To know that they've put this technology
further into their index may have some big
payoffs but we'll just have to see how it plays
out," Mr Sullivan said.
The news was announced at an intimate press
event at the Silicon Valley garage where
founders Sergei Brin and Larry Page worked on
the launch of the search engine, which is
fifteen years old on Friday.
At the event, the search behemoth also
announced an updated search app on Apple's
iOS, as well as a more visible presence for
voice search on its home page.