What is You.com?

  • You.com is an AI-powered search engine that “summarizes the best parts of the internet” for users whilst 100% of their data is kept private. The website was developed by former Salesforce employees Richard Socher and Bryan McCann.
  • The most unique aspect of You.com is how search results are presented. The page – which resembles a mixture of Google, Twitter, Reddit, and GitHub – shows results as a series of categories such as Web Results, News, Video, Sports, Crypto, Images, and Maps.
  • At present, You.com founders are focused on providing the best possible search experience and plan to explore monetization ideas in the future. One potential source of revenue is private ads that are not linked to users and don’t invade their privacy.

You.com is an AI-powered search engine that “summarizes the best parts of the internet” for users whilst 100% of their data is kept private. 

The website was developed by former Salesforce employees Richard Socher and Bryan McCann in 2020 with a public beta opening on November 9, 2021. 

 

 

How does You.com work?

You.com is an AI search engine that rests on three user-centric pillars:

  1. Your Time – You.com’s multi-dimensional interface features vertical and horizontal scrolling to enable the user to discover more in less time. 
  2. Your Sources – users can personalize their search with more than 150 apps such as Amazon, Twitter, Medium, Pinterest, and Stack Overflow. Search results improve over time with the help of AI and one’s preferences. 
  3. Your Privacy – You.com protects user data whilst they surf the web. There are no tracking tools or invasive ads, and data is never sold to third parties. Users can also select Private Mode to avoid having their locations, preferences, and searches stored.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of You.com is how it presents search results. The page – which resembles a mixture of Google, Twitter, Reddit, and GitHub – shows results as a series of categories such as Web Results, News, Video, Sports, Crypto, Images, and Maps. 

The user can easily flick between different categories in the sidebar to customize their experience, and each category houses numerous apps. For example, the Sports category incorporates apps like ESPN and Sports Illustrated, while the Social category incorporates Pinterest, LinkedIn, Quora, and so forth.

Searching on You.com

With the default settings enabled, an example search for “Elon Musk” shows various apps on the results page. At the top left is the Twitter app with a link to Musk’s profile and a selection of his recent tweets. 

Under this is a list of search results similar to Google search, but You.com’s list also incorporates the News app with articles on Musk from The New York Post, TheStreet.com, and Space.com. At the bottom of the page, users can click the “Display more results” button or add more apps to customize their results.

On the right-hand side of the page is an area that resembles a sidebar. At the top is the chatbot YouChat for those that want an AI-generated answer to their question. Under this is an abbreviated version of Musk’s Wikipedia page and a “People Also Ask” section with questions such as “What did Elon Musk invent?” and “What is Elon Musk’s real name?

How does You.com make money?

At present, You.com founders are focused on providing the best possible search experience and plan to explore monetization ideas in the future. 

One potential revenue stream the company mentions is private ads. A user may search for a new coffee machine and be served with a coffee machine ad, but the ad itself will not be linked to them or invade their privacy. 

Despite its focus on the search experience, You.com does admit that it earns a small amount of affiliate income from the products it features on the Walmart app. However, it is quick to point out that this relationship does not impact the way products are displayed or results ranked.

Key takeaways:

  • Introduction and Founders:
    • You.com is an AI-powered search engine that aims to summarize the best parts of the internet for users while maintaining their data privacy.
    • It was developed by former Salesforce employees Richard Socher and Bryan McCann in 2020, with a public beta launched on November 9, 2021.
  • Functionality and User-Centric Pillars:
    • You.com focuses on three pillars to enhance user experience:
      • Your Time: The interface allows vertical and horizontal scrolling for quicker content discovery.
      • Your Sources: Users can personalize searches with over 150 apps and preferences, improving results over time.
      • Your Privacy: You.com prioritizes user data protection, with no tracking tools, invasive ads, or data sold to third parties. Private Mode is available to prevent data storage.
  • Unique Search Results Presentation:
    • You.com presents search results through a unique interface combining aspects of Google, Twitter, Reddit, and GitHub.
    • Search results are categorized into sections like Web Results, News, Video, Sports, Crypto, Images, and Maps.
    • Users can easily switch between categories in the sidebar, with each category incorporating various apps for a customized experience.
  • Searching on You.com:
    • A search for a query like “Elon Musk” yields a variety of app-based results.
    • The interface includes Twitter links, news articles, and related questions in a sidebar.
    • Users can access AI-generated answers through the YouChat chatbot.
  • Monetization Plans:
    • The founders currently prioritize providing an exceptional search experience.
    • Potential revenue streams for the future include private ads that respect user privacy, displaying relevant ads without linking to users.
    • The platform earns a small affiliate income from products featured on the Walmart app, with no impact on display or ranking of results.

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