Digital Quest

Navigating the maze of information with a touch of human wisdom

Happy Friday, Seekers and Helpers!

Let's talk about the search—not the "Ctrl + F" kind but the epic quest we undertake on the digital plains of the internet. Google, our old reliable, often has us sifting through a labyrinth of information, hoping to stumble upon the answer we need.

Now, here's a little story for you.

Earlier this week, I had a simple question about Canva. All I needed was to flip a document, not just adjust the size, but actually mirror it. So, naturally, as we've all been programmed to do since the dawn of the internet, I Googled it.

Five minutes of trawling through forums and help pages, and I was no wiser. Then it hit me—why not use Athena? Talk about a 'duh' moment, right? Even as a co-founder, old habits die hard.

I made a request on Athena, and in less than ten seconds, not only did my helper confidently inform me, "Sorry, that’s not a Canva feature," but she immediately pivoted to a solution. "Let me show you how to do it in Photoshop," she offered.

The distinction between Googling and using Athena became crystal clear: Athena provided both the information and the solution in one go, whereas Google might have left me sifting through more searches for a workaround.

Last year, as ChatGPT took the world by storm, it sparked a debate around the effectiveness of traditional search engines like Google. This shift led to the emergence of new players in the search engine arena, aiming to redefine how we find information online. Among these newcomers, Dexa and Perplexity have caught my eye.

So I did some homework and reconnaissance, and here is what I’ve found:

Dexa

Dexa is designed to tap into the vast knowledge found in podcasts, providing a new way to gather information. But when it came to my Canva issue, Dexa's focus on audio didn't quite deliver the solution I needed.

Take a look for yourself. The results aren't too surprising. It's hard to imagine finding an expert deep-diving into the specifics of a digital tool in a podcast.

Out of curiosity, I asked Dexa simply “Canva” to see what podcasts have discussed technology and digital tools. So in case, anyone is curious, here are the results:

Perplexity

Perplexity, meanwhile, offers a slight improvement. It does share some useful insights, such as the components you can flip in Canva, including elements, photos, videos, text, and images. Yet, it somewhat disappoints towards the end with the revelation that flipping an entire page in Canva isn't possible.

So, of course, I asked a follow-up question. What should I do? And this is what it said:

For me, and possibly for you as well, this information isn't completely useful. If I wanted to grasp how to flip an image in Photoshop, it seems I'd need to ask an additional question to get that clarity.

It's reasonable to assume that someone inquiring about Canva might not have access to Photoshop, right? Therefore, the "3 simple steps" mentioned earlier might not be very helpful for me. To find a solution, I'd need to ask more questions, like "are there any free alternatives?" before I can download and try out other software or platforms.

In essence, this means investing time, and ultimately, Perplexity might not be that much more helpful than a Google search. While it could be more efficient for certain queries, my experience has shown that when it comes to resolving issues with digital tools and needing specific how-to knowledge, all search platforms seem to fall short.

So, what’s next?

This highlights a pivotal truth of our digital era: while information overflows, wisdom remains scarce, and practical solutions even scarcer. Exploring Dexa and Perplexity, I recognized their strengths but also encountered their limitations. They provide data, certainly, but lack the nuanced, problem-solving interaction that comes from human engagement.

In an era where new digital tools emerge with the rapidity of spring flowers, the value of a human touch persists. Athena champions the idea that the creativity and insight of human minds are irreplaceable by any algorithm.

Our mission extends beyond merely answering queries; we're here to guide you through challenges, offering support as you traverse the complex landscape of technology.

Until next time, keep searching, keep asking, and never forget: Athena is here to transform those tech headaches into a reason to celebrate your savvy.

Stay curious, and let's make every minute count.

Cheers,

The Athena Team