In an era dominated by information accessibility, the question of how we search is paramount. "Doing our own research" has become a ubiquitous facet of daily life, but the world of search is dramatically changing. This presentation delves into the intricate dynamics shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world of search. It scrutinizes how our worldviews impact keywords and how these phrases shape the information returned to us. It will also explore the interconnected nature of various online platforms, explaining how absence of information on Wikipedia can reverberate, impacting AI systems trained on that data (e.g., AI Overviews or ChatGPT). Central to the discussion is the concept of "data voids" — instances where information vacuums are created and exploited for political or corporate gain. By examining these voids, the presentation aims to unravel the complex interplay between user-driven content generation and the manipulation of information landscapes by external forces.
