My first Anti-AI article got some traction, and I realized I didn’t include all of the alternatives I used. As Google continues its AI fuckery, I felt strongly about writing a Part II article.
Google just announced that soon your Gmail will be able to talk to you. They are going to force AI in everything, so I have found ways to replace almost everything Google. Unfortunately, Gmail is not one of them, yet. I’ve struggled to find an alternative to Gmail that actually works similarly. I’ve heard mixed things about Proton Mail and I’m pretty sure I read they will be allowing AI as well, so I don’t recommend them at this time.
I have private emails through my website, but the layout of Gmail is more accessible to me. It’s the only thing I currently haven’t found a replacement for, but I’m going to keep looking and I will update all of you if I find something!
In the meantime, I have replaced my browser, which was originally Google Chrome, and my search engine. I don’t Google anymore. It’s a sad day, but I don’t have any regrets. I’m no longer going to Google if I can help it.
Let’s talk first about the browser replacement.
Vivaldi Browser: I’ve been using this browser for over a month now and I gotta say I like it better than Chrome. Vivaldi was designed to be a Chrome replacement. That means that you can easily switch from Chrome. It took me about a month to work up the courage to switch over completely. For a while I was using dual browsers, but that was because I didn’t look up how to move my passwords over. You can integrate everything from your Chrome – from your bookmarks to your saved passwords. It’s a simple upload integration. I liked Chrome because everything connected and it stored all my data. Having something that works similarly is great.
I also use some important extensions. For example, I watch a lot of media and having the ability to speed up or slow down that media is important. I also use it for things like captioning when videos don’t have captions on them. I’m hard of hearing and I struggle to watch things without good captioning.
The thing I like about Vivaldi is that you can have different tabs and you can organize them by themes. I have tabs for work, streaming (I can pop up on my favorite streamers), socials like Bluesky and other social media, and fun which includes streaming services like Tubi. I’ve always struggled with organization with Chrome because everything could be in one window with different tabs. I would have to open multiple windows to organize them by theme. I like having more control and organization over the tabs.
I haven’t had a lot of problems with the browser not working. It seems pretty stable. By now I’ve completely left Chrome. It’s funny because a decade ago I wouldn’t have switched from Chrome for anything. It was the best browser. Slowly, as the enshitification of everything has started to happen, Google and all of its products have become worse and worse.
I cannot recommend the switch to Vivaldi more highly enough. If you can get me to switch you know this browser has to be worth it. The only reason it took a month is because I was dragging my feet and also because I struggle to complete tasks like this in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with the quality of Vivaldi.
I give the browser 9.5/10.
You can download it for yourself at the following link.
Startpage Search Engine: For years, Google has been the standard for search. Not just years but decades. I remember the early Intranet. It didn’t really feel like the modern Internet until Google became the search engine. That’s the absolute truth. I would go to Google search from literally everything. I am a researcher. I like to learn things. I’m constantly at Google. Or at least I used to be.
The search engines before Google were sad. They did not have the index power or capacity. Unfortunately, Google is facing a slow and excruciatingly painful death. Google is going to become an AI portal where you rely on AI to give you inaccurate information. Maybe if the AI was not so terrible at giving the right information I would support this. But not only is it not like it used to be, but it’s not even giving you accurate information which is why you go to a search engine in the first place!
As creators, we have long depended on the Internet to help educate us. We can’t do that with Google anymore. That’s why we are now using Startpage. Startpage is a basic search engine. It’s nothing special. I’m not as excited about this replacement as I am about Vivaldi. This is because I think we have lost something significant through the loss of Google search.
Google used to be so efficient, easy to use, and the interface was attractive (by attractive I mean it wasn’t cluttered or hard to understand or follow). Now, AI has taken over everything and clutters up the top of all the searches. I find the clutter to be ugly. Google is not attractive anymore. Startpage is not exactly attractive either. But it does appear to be more accurate than Google.
Really, for a search engine I just need something that can find results easily. I like how Google was set up so you could get important information through things at the top. Look up a celebrity – Google has a nice little bit of photos, information on anything they’ve done, access to their social media. It’s really convenient. That’s the one deficit of Startpage. It’s just a basic search engine so while it has is links.
Another downside is I feel like it’s not pulling the best links right away. It also is pretty dark and bleh in appearance. I’m going to have to play with that and see if you can change it at all, because when everything is kind of monotone in color it’s hard to pay attention. That was the thing about Google. It was organized a lot better. I’m hoping that Startpage will become better as its developed more.
Right now, Startpage is the search engine that is the default for Vivaldi. That’s how I learned about it. It’s a great basic search engine, but it’s not any better than that. That being said, in the interim, while Google is having its identity crisis and insisting on using AI, this is a great easy solution. Is it everything you need a search engine? Probably not. Is it the best search engine that’s ever been out there. No. But will it get the job done? So far so good.
I give this a 7/10.
You can check out Startpage here.
I’m sure as the AI BS continues I will find other alternatives I can share so stay tuned for future posts and thanks for reading!
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