Searching for Google through Bing, Bing takes on the guise of Google. With this rather desperate attempt, Microsoft is trying to keep users on Bing.
Bing is in Google’s shadow, and Microsoft is trying to do something about that in many ways. Microsoft’s latest move leaves little to the imagination. Windows Latest noted that when you type “Google” into Bing’s search bar, the search engine mimics Google’s interface.
Bing or Google?
The cartoon and the way the search bar is placed is immediately reminiscent of Google. The less attentive user might believe he or she is using Google. To make it even more stealthy, Bing hides its logo and main search bar until you scroll up. Only the message below the search bar reveals Bing’s true nature, but who says no to a free donation to charity?
This interface appears only for very specific searches such as google or google search. Even with the Dutch-language search term google search , you get to see the normal searches, as well as when you would search for ITdaily through the search engine.
What the thinking of the people behind Bing has been, we can only guess. Is it a misplaced joke or does Microsoft believe it can effectively keep users on Bing this way? It won’t do much good. Bing had a four percent market share at the end of 2024, according to figures from StatCounter, compared to ninety percent for Google. Google is synonymous with looking up information on the Internet, and that is not likely to change any time soon.
Flattery
At least at Google, they can’t laugh about it. The search giant lashes out sharply at Microsoft and Bing in a response to Windows Latest. “Imitation is the fairest form of flattery, but spoofing the Google homepage is yet another tactic in the long history of tricks to confuse users and limit their choice,” said head of the Google Chrome team Parisa Tabriz.