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Neeva Admits It Can’t Challenge Google’s Search Engine Dominance
Neeva, a search engine founded in 2019 by former Googlers, had set its sights on challenging Google’s search engine dominance and becoming a paid ad-free and privacy-focused alternative. The search engine was launched in the US in 2021 and later in the UK, France, and Germany. However, Neeva failed to attract enough users and the founders admitted they could no longer create a sustainable business in consumer search due to the current economic circumstances.
Transitioning to a New Area of Focus
In a blog post about the closure of Neeva’s consumer business, the co-founders said they would be shutting down Neeva.com, as well as its consumer search product, over the next few weeks and shifting to a new area of focus. According to The Verge, the new focus is likely to be Large Language Modelling (LLM) based and related to its planned acquisition by data cloud company Snowflake.
Although Neeva successfully created a visually attractive search engine, which emphasized human-created information instead of Google’s traditional ten blue links, the co-founders were unable to convince users to switch from search engine giants like Google and Microsoft’s Bing.
Users Refunded and Data Deleted
As TechCrunch noted, Neeva had also been working on a standalone generative AI search app called Gist, but its planned iOS launch had been repeatedly delayed without explanation. Neeva’s search engine will officially shut down on June 2nd. Subscribers to the company’s premium paid-for search engine service will receive a refund for the unused portion of their subscription, and the company will delete all user data.
Conclusion
Neeva’s closure of its search engine business is a reminder of Google’s stronghold on the search engine market. Although Neeva offered a unique approach by emphasizing human-created information, the company was unable to convince users to switch to a new platform. It will be interesting to see what new developments will emerge from Neeva’s shift towards LLM-based projects and its planned acquisition by Snowflake.
FAQs
What was Neeva?
Neeva was a search engine founded in 2019 by former Googlers. It was marketed as a paid ad-free and privacy-focused alternative to Google.
Why is Neeva shutting down?
In a blog post, Neeva’s co-founders said they could no longer create a sustainable business in consumer search amid the current economic climate. They will be shutting down Neeva.com and its consumer search product and shifting to a new area of focus, likely to be LLM-based and relating to its planned acquisition by cloud-computing-based data cloud company Snowflake. Neeva’s search engine will officially shut down on June 2nd.
What will happen to Neeva’s subscribers?
Subscribers to Neeva’s premium paid-for search engine service will receive a refund for the unused portion of their subscription, and the company will delete all user data.
What is Gist?
Gist is Neeva’s standalone generative AI search app, which has been released on Android. Its planned iOS launch at the end of March was repeatedly delayed without explanation.
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