VOA慢速：如何使用人工智能工具提高互联网搜索质量

How to Use AI Tools to Improve Quality of Internet Searches

慢速/四级偏难/572词/6min10s

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What is the expected trend for the use of AI systems in Internet searches?

A. It is expected to decline gradually.

B. It is expected to grow sharply.

C. It will remain relatively stable.

D. It has already reached its peak.

Q2. Which of the following AI tools is associated with Microsoft’s search engine Bing?

A. Gemini.

B. Gemini and Copilot.

C. ChatGPT.

D. Copilot.

Q3. What is the primary purpose of Google’s “Search Generative Experience”?

A. To replace links with AI-produced briefs about a subject.

B. To provide a list of links to external websites.

C. To offer chatbot services for search assistance.

D. To enhance the search experience with multimedia content.

Q4. What can be inferred about the effectiveness of AI-assisted search tools from the text?

A. They are less effective than traditional search engines for common search queries.

B. They are most effective when used in conjunction with human oversight.

C. They are particularly useful for finding obscure information.

D. They have been proven to eliminate the risk of misinformation.

Q5. What is the main idea of the text regarding AI search tools?

A. AI search tools are becoming obsolete due to technological advancements.

B. AI search tools are improving the search experience but also pose potential risks.

C. AI search tools have completely replaced traditional search engines.

D. AI search tools are only available to users who pay for premium services.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

How to Use AI Tools to Improve Quality of Internet Searches

Internet search companies have already built artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their systems. (Q1) And the use of AI systems to support Internet searches is expected to grow sharply in coming years.

Some technology experts feel this change can greatly improve the overall search experience for users. But experts also have concerns.

One early user, or adopter, of AI search is Google. The American-based company’s search engine currently processes an estimated 80 percent of the world’s Internet search requests.

(Q2) Microsoft’s search engine Bing also includes AI-powered results. Bing’s AI system is linked to the company’s Copilot service. Copilot is an AI tool designed to operate across a series of Microsoft business products.

Copilot is based on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which launched in late 2022. ChatGPT is a computer-powered AI tool designed to interact smoothly with humans.

Such AI tools — known as “chatbots” or “generative AI” — are trained on massive amounts of Internet data. They have shown an ability to perform human-level writing and create high-quality images and videos based on short, written descriptions.

But these AI systems have also demonstrated possible risks. One risk is the tools can present false or misleading information as truth. They can also produce results that represent long-standing biases against minorities or underrepresented communities.

Here, we offer some guidance for users seeking new systems to provide improved and relevant search results.

l Where do I find AI search tools?

Some major search companies have made it easy to find AI search engines on their main search pages.

Google’s search system is powered by its own chatbot tool, called Gemini. It can easily be found directly on desktop or mobile phone browsers. Gemini can be used to perform other chatbot actions as well as providing search assistance.

(Q3) Google also has been testing a new search offering, called “Search Generative Experience.” It replaces links with AI-produced briefs containing basic facts about a subject. This system is currently limited to U.S. users who sign up through Google’s experimental Labs site.

To use AI with Microsoft’s Bing search engine, simply click the Chat or Copilot button underneath the main search window. This should pull up an information box where users can enter their search requests.

New AI search sites have also launched. But they are not as easy to find. The Associated Press reports one way to find them is to perform searches for tools on Copilot or Gemini. Some to look out for include Perplexity, HuggingChat, You.com, Komo, Andi, Phind, Exa and AskAI.

l Do I have to sign up for or pay for these services?

Most of these services have free versions. But generally, there are limits on how many searches a user can make. Users can also upgrade from basic services to higher levels providing smarter AI tools and more search possibilities.

Gemini users, for example, can pay $20 for an upgraded version that offers its “most capable” model, called Ultra 1.0.

Most of the startup sites are largely free to use and don’t require setting up an account. Many also have upgrade possibilities.

l What are the results like?

Unlike a traditional Google search, results from AI tools usually produce a longer, readable collection of information. Sometimes, the original source of information is also included. And in some cases, messages are included to warn users about possible misinformation appearing in the results.

It is a good idea to try out different AI tools. Results from each can differ, sometimes wildly. (Q4) The AP reports that results from AI-assisted search tools can be especially useful when searching for more obscure facts or information.

obscure adj. 费解的；难以理解的

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Part III. KEY

Q1. B.细节题。根据文本中的描述：“And the use of AI systems to support Internet searches is expected to grow sharply in coming years.” 可知，使用AI系统支持互联网搜索的趋势预计将在未来几年内急剧增长。因此答案为B。

Q2. D.细节题。文本提到：“Microsoft’s search engine Bing also includes AI-powered results. Bing’s AI system is linked to the company’s Copilot service.” 这说明与微软的搜索引擎Bing相关联的AI工具是Copilot。因此答案为D。

Q3. A.细节题。根据文本中的信息：“Google also has been testing a new search offering, called ‘Search Generative Experience.’ It replaces links with AI-produced briefs containing basic facts about a subject.” 可知，Google的Search Generative Experience主要是用AI生成的关于某一主题的基本事实概要来替代链接。因此答案为A。

Q4. C.推理题。文本中提到：“The AP reports that results from AI-assisted search tools can be especially useful when searching for more obscure facts or information.” 这说明AI辅助搜索工具在寻找更模糊的事实或信息时特别有用。因此答案为C。

Q5. B.主旨题。文章整体讨论了AI搜索工具如何改善用户的搜索体验，同时也提到了这些工具可能带来的风险，如提供虚假或误导性信息，以及可能反映长期存在的偏见。因此，文章的主要观点是AI搜索工具在提升搜索体验的同时也存在潜在风险。答案为B。

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