Google's RankBrain algorithm has been unleashed on the web

Google is now using RankBrain, its machine-learning system, to process the more than 2 trillion queries sent each year through its search engine, according to Search Engine Land. This is a considerable increase from when RankBrain was first introduced in Q3 2015, when it was used for roughly 15% of search queries. The full time deployment of RankBrain will make Google Search far more intuitive for users. RankBrain “interprets” users’ search terms using machine learning — a type of artificial intelligence — to find pages that may not have contained the exact keywords that were used in the search query. The system is able to “guess” what a user means when they type in an ambiguous search query and then pass along its assumptions to the search platform. Furthermore, it learns over time, better refining search results. This will help surface more relevant information for users, rather than just relying on keywords and links. Moving forward, RankBrain could help improve app discoverability as Google continues to merge the two worlds of the mobile web and apps. Google includes a number of apps within its Search results and has also introduced App Streaming, which allows users to “stream” apps that appear in their results without having to download them. By improving the accuracy and relevancy of users’ queries, Google could help smaller developers get their apps in front of consumers. Reuters