Source access
Does the answer link to accessible, relevant and dated pages? Open them: a citation does not prove that the summary is faithful.
Evidence to keep · Cited URLs and checked passages
GUIDE / COMPARISON
Compare search engines and AI assistants
The same question can produce a list of pages, a synthesis or a recommendation. This guide compares those results without confusing presence, quality and evidence.
01 / GUIDE / COMPARISON
Compare a task, not a brand
Start with a real audience question. Keep its wording stable, set the language, region and date, then inspect several interfaces under similar conditions. The result is not a universal ranking: it shows which differences matter for a specific decision.
Explore platforms02 / GUIDE / COMPARISON
Six dimensions to inspect
For each answer, keep a dated capture, the pages opened and separate notes for what is visible, inferred or still unknown.
Freshness
Are time-sensitive facts tied to an identifiable publication or update? Repeat the test after an important change.
Evidence to keep · Source date and observation dateAccuracy and limits
Separate confirmed facts, interpretation and unsupported claims. Note relevant caveats omitted by the interface.
Evidence to keep · Counterexample or primary sourceLanguage coverage
Do the question, sources and answer align by language? A fluent translation can hide a thin local evidence base.
Evidence to keep · Query and sources by languageUseful journey
Does the proposed page let someone complete the task on mobile, including navigation, accessibility and next action?
Evidence to keep · Completed task or observed barrierData context
Does the interface use the public web, its own index or connected work data? Check the settings before comparison.
Evidence to keep · Search mode and declared scope03 / GUIDE / COMPARISON
A reproducible observation
A short log makes answers comparable over time without treating one observation as a general truth.
- 01
Define the panel
Choose representative questions about entity discovery, offer comparison, fact checking, local search and multilingual needs.
- 02
Fix the context
Record date, device, language, region, account, search mode and exact wording. Keep private and connected sessions separate.
- 03
Open the evidence
Visit cited pages, record useful passages and check important claims against a primary source when possible.
- 04
Decide and follow up
Rank differences by their effect on a decision, correct pages you control and repeat the same panel afterwards.
04 / GUIDE / COMPARISON
Four common situations
The appropriate reading depends on the risk and action required.
A brand is missing
Check indexability, public identity and the queries used before attributing the absence to one assistant.
Read protocolA citation distorts a fact
Archive the answer, open the cited source and locate the passage. Correct a source you control, then observe subsequent answers.
Read protocolA market spans languages
Compare answers and sources in each target language, then check destination pages and their hreflang variants.
Read protocolA choice involves sensitive data
Identify public or connected data, granted permissions and the human recovery path before using the system.
Read protocol05 / GUIDE / COMPARISON
Official sources
06 / FAQ
Comparison questions
Is there a best assistant?
Only for a defined task, context and date. Models, indexes, settings and sources change.
Does a citation prove accuracy?
No. Open the page and confirm that the cited passage supports the claim.
Should every interface get a separate page?
Start with accessible, original, clear and sourced pages. Then measure differences on interfaces that matter to your audience.
How often should the panel run?
Check consequential or time-sensitive questions more often. Elsewhere, use a stable schedule and retest after changes.
07 / Describe a context
Turn observations into a decision
A question panel, preserved evidence and ranked differences support a proportionate next step.