Ecosia & Qwant Declare War on Big Tech with New Search Index

The French rebel Qwant and the eco-warrior Ecosia are linking arms to give the tech behemoths a run for their money. These two privacy-focused search engines are tired of playing by the rules set by Microsoft and Google, so they're taking matters into their own hands by creating a brand-new European search index. The goal? To cut the strings attached to tech giants and foster innovation in Generative AI (GenAI), all while keeping your data locked up tighter than a drum.

mage Source: Image generated by AI, provided by Midjourney

The Big Problem: Dependency on Big Tech APIs

Right now, both Ecosia and Qwant rely heavily on Bing's search API to pull in results, with Ecosia even dipping into Google's pool. But here's the kicker: Microsoft has jacked up the price of those Bing APIs, making it painfully clear that being dependent on these giants is a costly affair. Sure, they won't cut ties with Bing and Google entirely just yet, but they’re hell-bent on reducing that dependency. The plan? Build their own index, save a ton of cash, and use that extra dough to fuel the next generation of GenAI tech. Now that's smart!

Christian Kroll Drops the Mic

Christian Kroll, the CEO of Ecosia, didn't mince words when he said that AI tools have changed the game, and Google and Bing are playing hard to get with their precious indices. The rise of AI has made search data even more valuable, and these giants are hoarding it. That’s why Ecosia and Qwant's independent index isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s mission-critical. And guess what? Europe’s regulatory environment is giving them a golden opportunity to make it happen. Innovation, here we come!

Introducing: The European Search Perspective

They’re calling their new venture the "European Search Perspective"—a project that screams independence. Ecosia and Qwant are splitting the ownership down the middle, 50/50. They’re keeping the exact numbers close to the chest, but their shareholders are totally on board. The rollout plan? French users will get first dibs in early 2024, with German users joining the party by late 2025. English and other European languages will follow suit. Take that, Silicon Valley!

Qwant’s Engineers Lead the Charge

Qwant’s engineering squad will be leading the charge, with their CEO, Olivier Abecassis, taking the helm of this new joint venture. The goal? To supercharge development, attract investment, and build a search index that doesn’t spy on its users. Ecosia will handle the cash and data support, making sure the tech is as solid as it needs to be to take on the giants.

Privacy-First, No Data Games

Unlike other so-called privacy-first engines (ide-eyeing you, Brave, the European Search Perspective will actually walk the walk. No creepy, personalized recommendations based on your data here. Kroll is adamant: Europe needs its own search infrastructure to protect data sovereignty. In other words, the Europeans want to keep their data under their own lock and key, and we’re here for it.

Quote of the Day

"🌍 Ecosia and Qwant collaborate to develop an independent search index to reduce dependence on tech giants."

"💡 The new index is expected to begin serving French users early in 2024, with further expansion to Germany and other languages."

"🔒 The new search engine will adhere to a 'privacy-first' principle, not offering personalized searches based on user data."

Summary

1. Ecosia and Qwant team up to build an independent search index, breaking free from Microsoft and Google’s grip.

2. Microsoft’s rising API costs and AI’s demand for search data make this a crucial move.

3. The new search index project, "European Search Perspective," is set to debut in France in 2024, with Germany to follow.

4. The new search engine will be privacy-first, offering no personalized results based on user data, and aims to protect Europe’s data sovereignty.