Semantic search is understanding a searcher or user’s search intent by understanding the language within their queries. Semantic search offers the ability to find more personalized, meaningful and relevant results for searchers through logic.
This happens because semantic search engines try to bring relevant information together in a comprehensive way. Instead of giving a list of web pages based on the fact that our search term occurs at least one time in them, they make a selection of the most relevant pages.
The semantic search engine knows the different ways a concept can be expressed and in what context a term is used. It uses this knowledge to help you find what you are seeking in a fast and comprehensive manner.
Boolean is a great search tool to find and pinpoint the content in a database. However, the main tools in Boolean are the “or” and “and” statements that allow you to list out all the different variants of a search to combine them into a multi-criteria query.
The average time a knowledge worker spends searching for information is 2.5 hours per day. Knowledge-intensive employees (like lawyers, researchers, etc.) may spend up to 70% of a workday on search. Semantic search has revolutionized the way people can search for information with new technology.
In semantic search, you write a simple query and the machine writes the conceptual query for you behind the scenes. Look at it like semantic search spreads the power of Boolean to the masses.
Semantic search has evolved over the last couple of years due to new innovations in artificial intelligence (AI). AI gives search engines the ability to understand natural language and the way humans speak.
Traditional search engines are capable of answering basic queries but when it comes to more pointed questions from researchers, these search engines and their keyword-based approach fail to deliver accurate results.
At the end of the day, content needs to be findable and, that happens with a strong, standards-based taxonomy. Data Harmony is Access Innovations’ AI suite of tools that leverage explainable AI for efficient, innovative and precise semantic discovery of new and emerging concepts to help find the information you need when you need it.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Access Innovations, changing search to found.
