Google Unveils Huge Overhaul Of Its Search Engine; Biggest Update In 3 Years

Thursday, Google unveiled a major revamp of their search engine that that ultimately affects, oh 90 percent of the search results served up worldwide. The update is internally called Hummingbird and was in full affect about a month ago, but was not disclosed by Google until Thursday at an event in Silicon Valley marking the company's 15-year anniversary. The new algorithm is said to makes search results more relevant and useful. Users can see the difference when asking more complex questions, Google search executive Amit Singhai explained.

On Thursday, Google search executive Tamar Yehoshua showed off just how accurate the new algorithm works by using a new voice-based query asking Google the comparison of the nutritional benefits of olive oil versus coconut oil. Google's new search algorithm returned a result dominated by a long list of information comparing the two oils. All this done and compiled by Google, and shown on the Google website.

Google has changed their PageRank system as well. The company revolutionized searching the Internet by developing the PageRank system for ranking the world's Web pages based on relevance, using an algorithm that tracked how many times those pages are referenced by other pages. The company changed the algorithm in 2010 with an update called Caffeine and now again.

USA Today reports that the change comes as people become more comfortable asking full and complex questions when they use Google, rather than using phrases or just words.

Singhai also said that Google is working to make the change to ensure search results work well with voice-based queries.

Google also announced an updated version of the Google search app on iOS, which is coming soon. The updated app will allow users to more clearly see their calendar or event cards from the app's home screen and reminders will carry over between iOS and Android devices.

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