ELI5: google vs llm for finding info

// eli5

What is Google vs an LLM for finding information?

Google is like a giant library catalog that shows you where books are located, while an LLM (Large Language Model) like ChatGPT is like a smart friend who reads lots of books and tries to explain things to you in their own words [2]. Google searches the internet and gives you links to websites, but an LLM generates answers by learning patterns from lots of text [4].

Why would you use one over the other?

Google is great when you want to find the actual source of information—like the real website or document you're looking for [4]. An LLM is great when you want a quick explanation or summary without having to click through lots of websites [2].

What's the main difference?

Google retrieves existing information and shows you where it came from, while an LLM creates new text based on what it learned, sometimes even making things up accidentally [5]. This means Google is more trustworthy for facts, but LLMs can be faster for understanding complex ideas [2][4].

Which one should you use?

If you need to verify facts or find original sources, use Google [4]. If you want a conversational explanation or quick summary, an LLM might be better [2]. Many people now use both together—ask an LLM for understanding, then verify with Google [1].