Kagi for WhatsApp

carl

Simple idea: Make a Kagi service for WhatsApp where people can send their search queries and get results as a reply.

This would be yet another step to get as many people as possible aware of Kagi. Just a simple query, and maybe determining the region by the phone number of the sender. I suggest this service would be free, without any logins, and kept simple and maybe rate limited. For people to get a taste of Kagi. Maybe with a link to the Kagi App or homepage at the bottom of every reply?

A lot of people who are connected today by their smart phones, barely use the internet, not even Google. Their experience consists of chat apps and social media. If Kagi can get a foot in the door with them, you could reach more potential subscribers.

ak42

carl

Instead of relying on Whatsapp/Meta, and limiting the ability to quickly search something to Whatsapp.
This could be implemented in a more globaly accessible way, using the android bubble API (like DeepL or Scribens do), and I'm pretty sure the equivalent exists with other Oses.

I don't want my subscription money to be used by Kagi in order to provide even more monopoly to the biggest.
But I'm ok for my subscription money to provide some amount of free access to those who just can't afford it. So the free access part, I'm down with it. I'm even ready to accept some increase to see some kind of free plan, a la protonmail. But i'm not the one to decide !
Remember, there also are Signal, Telegram, Wire, and what not. Meta is already big enough, no need to provide them more advantages.
Also wouldn't that service provide a false sense of privacy ?

Luis

carl interesting idea, thank you for sharing. How would these users learn about adding this to WhatsApp?

A lot of people who are connected today by their smart phones, barely use the internet, not even Google

I understand your point, but I believe people still use their browsers, rather than messaging or social media apps, for search queries (outside the scope of those apps)

carl

ak42

My idea with this is for Kagi to reach people who aren't very tech savvy. Anybody who uses Signal, Telegram or Wire is already plenty tech savvy and can get Kagi the normal way.

And like Roxy, I don't think it's fair to give free access while others are paying, so Kagi for WhatsApp should have some sensible limitations.

As for bubble API, I unfortunately do not know what this is. How would somebody who has no clue about technology use Kagi with bubble API? They know what WhatsApp is on their web browser.

RoxyRoxyRoxy

To be completely honest I think it would be better to increase the amount of searches that Starter plans get, rather than offer free access. This is something often brought up as a sticking point; 300 isn't enough but not everyone is ready to jump to Professional. Offering free searches might devalue Kagi to people as well, i.e. "why should I pay for it if they can give some of it out free?"

ak42

carl
no no no, sorry, for the confusion, I didn't mean users have to use the bubble API, but Kagi could use the bubble API to implement a way to provide quick access to search.

What the user would see is some small bubble on top of every app that would provide quick access to search.

But honestly, the best, for a quick search access, would be for Kagi to provide a replacement for the google assistant.
Today I'm using speakGPT with openai API, but I'd ditch that, and switch and stick to Kagi Ultimate if that ever existed.
And I bet that this would bring much more customers and big money 😃 (if it's ever able to actually understand when I ask it to open some apps or when I tell it to call people with non-latin/non-western names )

now if the idea is just to tease users. Again, I'm not fond of the idea Kagi providing a false sense of privacy.
specifically because I also want Kagi to succeed in the privacy side of the business.

And allow me to disagree, I know a few non-tech-savvy people who use signal and or telegram, some even don't use Whatsapp since a few years ago where Meta changed its TOS or something like that.

ak42

carl

Also, if providing free access with just nice products was the way to get more users. Mastodon would have worked.
Unfortunately, oligopolies use techniques to lock you in their products.

That's why people conitnue with twitter, with google, etc...
an example: Protonmail is freely accessible, but people stay with gmail.

carl

ak42 Again, I'm not fond of the idea Kagi providing a false sense of privacy.

I don't understand what you mean by this.

What the user would see is some small bubble on top of every app that would provide quick access to search.

That's a cool idea, but such a thing would require them to install an app, so it's a bit off-topic IMO.

Regarding Telegram, Signal et al, I have nothing against Kagi for those platforms also. This suggestion is about WhatsApp, because the user base is enormous and I'm familiar with it.

carl

Luis

Where I live I see people searching mostly on Instagram instead of in the browser. Instagram is where you find real places, businesses and events. The browser (Google) is where you find scams. The low quality of Google has already changed people's search habits. People will use Google for things that are outside the scope of Instagram and Google Map.

Where would they learn about adding Kagi to WhatsApp? I guess by word of mouth, just like how Kagi is only advertised by word of mouth today. Or by a link from the official Kagi Instagram page? For any non-digital advertising such as flyers or billboards, the vCard contact file fits inside a QR code.