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The CEO of dark horse search engine You.com says Google's days as an 'untouchable monopoly' are numbered

Mar 05, 2025 - businessinsider.com
Richard Socher, former AI chief at Salesforce and founder of You.com, is challenging Google's dominance in the search engine market. You.com, launched in 2021, is designed for knowledge workers and has incorporated digital agents for various tasks. Socher believes that the era of a single company maintaining a long-lasting monopoly, like Google's in search, is ending as users are more willing to explore AI-driven alternatives. Since its inception, You.com has attracted millions of users and offers a premium plan, with its revenue increasing significantly in 2024. The company also provides enterprise solutions for real-time web search.

Socher's background includes founding MetaMind, a deep-learning company acquired by Salesforce, where he later became chief scientist. He co-authored a paper on multitask learning with Bryan McCann, which influenced AI research and inspired the creation of You.com. Despite competition from companies like OpenAI and Perplexity, Socher remains focused on innovation and adapting to the rapidly evolving AI landscape. He acknowledges the need for agility in anticipating and leading the next big shift in search technology.

Key takeaways:

  • Richard Socher, founder of You.com, believes Google's search monopoly is under threat as users are eager to try AI-powered alternatives.
  • You.com, a search engine for knowledge workers, has raised about $100 million in funding and offers both free and premium services.
  • Since launching in 2021, You.com has reached millions of users and seen a significant increase in revenue since early 2024.
  • Socher and cofounder Bryan McCann left Salesforce to start You.com, inspired by their research on multitask learning and the potential for AI-driven search engines.
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