tech

Apple and Google both want to monitor the web for you

Two of the biggest names in tech now want to watch the web on your behalf.

Apple and Google both want to monitor the web for you

TL;DR

  • Apple's Safari feature 'Notify Me' and Google's 'information agents' will monitor web pages and alert users to changes.
  • Both companies claim to use AI to meet specific conditions and minimize false positives.
  • These features aim to shift search from a one-time query to a persistent, ongoing loop.
  • The idea of software watching the web has existed for over twenty years, with services like Google Alerts being early examples.
  • Google's agents will be available to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US over the summer, while Apple's Notify Me ships this fall.
  • The tools are divided into open-web agents (like Google's) that scan broadly and page-monitoring agents (like Apple's) that focus on specific pages.
  • Use cases range from everyday tasks like tracking product prices to high-stakes situations like securing scarce resources or appointments.