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What is Cognitive Search?
The AI-Powered Evolution of Enterprise Search
What is Cognitive Search?
The AI-Powered Evolution of Enterprise Search
What is Cognitive Search?
The AI-Powered Evolution of Enterprise Search
October 7, 2020
October 7, 2020
October 7, 2020
On April 20, 1994, Brian Pinkerton created WebCrawler, the very first internet search engine. Unlike the search engines that came before it, WebCrawler allowed users to search for any word on any webpage. You’d type a few keywords, cross your fingers, and hope the results were relevant. For decades, this simple keyword matching was the standard. But in today's enterprise, where data is vast, varied, and scattered across countless systems, that approach is no longer enough.
As big data has become bigger and more connected, developers are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to make enterprise search smarter. The evolution from basic search to intelligent discovery is here, driven by artificial intelligence. Welcome to the era of cognitive search.
On April 20, 1994, Brian Pinkerton created WebCrawler, the very first internet search engine. Unlike the search engines that came before it, WebCrawler allowed users to search for any word on any webpage. You’d type a few keywords, cross your fingers, and hope the results were relevant. For decades, this simple keyword matching was the standard. But in today's enterprise, where data is vast, varied, and scattered across countless systems, that approach is no longer enough.
As big data has become bigger and more connected, developers are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to make enterprise search smarter. The evolution from basic search to intelligent discovery is here, driven by artificial intelligence. Welcome to the era of cognitive search.
On April 20, 1994, Brian Pinkerton created WebCrawler, the very first internet search engine. Unlike the search engines that came before it, WebCrawler allowed users to search for any word on any webpage. You’d type a few keywords, cross your fingers, and hope the results were relevant. For decades, this simple keyword matching was the standard. But in today's enterprise, where data is vast, varied, and scattered across countless systems, that approach is no longer enough.
As big data has become bigger and more connected, developers are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to make enterprise search smarter. The evolution from basic search to intelligent discovery is here, driven by artificial intelligence. Welcome to the era of cognitive search.
The typical data-centric enterprise manages more than 10 billion files annually. That volume of data creates a lot of challenges. In fact, enterprise employees spend an average of 1.8 hours every day searching for the information and data they need to do their job.
The typical data-centric enterprise manages more than 10 billion files annually. That volume of data creates a lot of challenges. In fact, enterprise employees spend an average of 1.8 hours every day searching for the information and data they need to do their job.
The typical data-centric enterprise manages more than 10 billion files annually. That volume of data creates a lot of challenges. In fact, enterprise employees spend an average of 1.8 hours every day searching for the information and data they need to do their job.
Timo Selvaraj, VP of Product Mgmt.
Timo Selvaraj, VP of Product Mgmt.
Timo Selvaraj, VP of Product Mgmt.
From Keywords to Understanding: A New Era in Enterprise Search
From Keywords to Understanding: A New Era in Enterprise Search
From Keywords to Understanding: A New Era in Enterprise Search
So, what exactly is cognitive search?
In short, it's the intelligent successor to traditional enterprise search. While keyword search looks for literal matches, cognitive search uses AI to understand the intent and contextual meaning behind every query.
So, what exactly is cognitive search?
In short, it's the intelligent successor to traditional enterprise search. While keyword search looks for literal matches, cognitive search uses AI to understand the intent and contextual meaning behind every query.
So, what exactly is cognitive search?
In short, it's the intelligent successor to traditional enterprise search. While keyword search looks for literal matches, cognitive search uses AI to understand the intent and contextual meaning behind every query.
A classic definition from Forrester describes it as “a new generation of enterprise search solutions that employ artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to ingest, understand, organize, and query digital content from multiple data sources.”
A classic definition from Forrester describes it as “a new generation of enterprise search solutions that employ artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to ingest, understand, organize, and query digital content from multiple data sources.”
A classic definition from Forrester describes it as “a new generation of enterprise search solutions that employ artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to ingest, understand, organize, and query digital content from multiple data sources.”
But today, it's more than that. It's the core technology powering the intelligent workplace, from the AI chatbot on your intranet to the unified search bar in your CRM. Here’s what sets modern cognitive search apart.
But today, it's more than that. It's the core technology powering the intelligent workplace, from the AI chatbot on your intranet to the unified search bar in your CRM. Here’s what sets modern cognitive search apart.
But today, it's more than that. It's the core technology powering the intelligent workplace, from the AI chatbot on your intranet to the unified search bar in your CRM. Here’s what sets modern cognitive search apart.
1. Unified Intelligence Across All Data
1. Unified Intelligence Across All Data
1. Unified Intelligence Across All Data
The first major leap is in data ingestion. Traditional search often struggles with the scale and diversity of enterprise data. Cognitive search, however, is built for it.
The first major leap is in data ingestion. Traditional search often struggles with the scale and diversity of enterprise data. Cognitive search, however, is built for it.
The first major leap is in data ingestion. Traditional search often struggles with the scale and diversity of enterprise data. Cognitive search, however, is built for it.
Embraces Unstructured Data: It seamlessly crawls and ingests both structured data (like databases) and unstructured data (like emails, PDFs, video transcripts, and Slack conversations). Many industry experts estimate that up to 90% of business data is unstructured. Given how much companies rely on data collection for value generation this is a non-negotiable capability for modern enterprise search.
Connects the Entire Digital Workplace: Through APIs and connectors, cognitive search platforms index data wherever it lives—be it in your CRMs, your product decks, or even support software. This creates a unified search experience, allowing employees to find what they need without switching between a dozen different apps.
Embraces Unstructured Data: It seamlessly crawls and ingests both structured data (like databases) and unstructured data (like emails, PDFs, video transcripts, and Slack conversations). Many industry experts estimate that up to 90% of business data is unstructured. Given how much companies rely on data collection for value generation this is a non-negotiable capability for modern enterprise search.
Connects the Entire Digital Workplace: Through APIs and connectors, cognitive search platforms index data wherever it lives—be it in your CRMs, your product decks, or even support software. This creates a unified search experience, allowing employees to find what they need without switching between a dozen different apps.
Embraces Unstructured Data: It seamlessly crawls and ingests both structured data (like databases) and unstructured data (like emails, PDFs, video transcripts, and Slack conversations). Many industry experts estimate that up to 90% of business data is unstructured. Given how much companies rely on data collection for value generation this is a non-negotiable capability for modern enterprise search.
Connects the Entire Digital Workplace: Through APIs and connectors, cognitive search platforms index data wherever it lives—be it in your CRMs, your product decks, or even support software. This creates a unified search experience, allowing employees to find what they need without switching between a dozen different apps.
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Human-Centric Queries
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Human-Centric Queries
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Human-Centric Queries
This is where the magic of understanding happens. Advanced Natural Language Processing allows the search engine to comprehend human language, not just keywords.
This is where the magic of understanding happens. Advanced Natural Language Processing allows the search engine to comprehend human language, not just keywords.
This is where the magic of understanding happens. Advanced Natural Language Processing allows the search engine to comprehend human language, not just keywords.
Understands Intent: A user doesn’t always type in a way that normal search can understand. A user shouldn’t have to type “How to import goods in 2025” They can ask, “What are the current guidelines for businesses looking to import goods?” and the system will understand the intent and deliver the most relevant, up-to-date policy documents and trade advisories.
Powers Conversational AI: NLP is the foundational technology behind the modern AI chatbot and voice assistants. It enables employees to interact with corporate data using natural, conversational language, making search a dialogue rather than a command.
Understands Intent: A user doesn’t always type in a way that normal search can understand. A user shouldn’t have to type “How to import goods in 2025” They can ask, “What are the current guidelines for businesses looking to import goods?” and the system will understand the intent and deliver the most relevant, up-to-date policy documents and trade advisories.
Powers Conversational AI: NLP is the foundational technology behind the modern AI chatbot and voice assistants. It enables employees to interact with corporate data using natural, conversational language, making search a dialogue rather than a command.
Understands Intent: A user doesn’t always type in a way that normal search can understand. A user shouldn’t have to type “How to import goods in 2025” They can ask, “What are the current guidelines for businesses looking to import goods?” and the system will understand the intent and deliver the most relevant, up-to-date policy documents and trade advisories.
Powers Conversational AI: NLP is the foundational technology behind the modern AI chatbot and voice assistants. It enables employees to interact with corporate data using natural, conversational language, making search a dialogue rather than a command.
SearchAI PreText™ NLP makes it easy to not only find your content but also fix it.
SearchAI PreText™ NLP makes it easy to not only find your content but also fix it.
SearchAI PreText™ NLP makes it easy to not only find your content but also fix it.
3. Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement
3. Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement
3. Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement
A key differentiator of cognitive search is that it doesn’t just work well out-of-the-box—it gets smarter over time.
A key differentiator of cognitive search is that it doesn’t just work well out-of-the-box—it gets smarter over time.
A key differentiator of cognitive search is that it doesn’t just work well out-of-the-box—it gets smarter over time.
Machine learning algorithms use implicit signals (like what users click on and how long they stay) and explicit feedback (like thumbs-up/down ratings) to continuously refine and rank results. The more it’s used, the more accurate and valuable it becomes, constantly fine-tuning its understanding of your company’s unique content and context.
4. The Generative AI Advantage
4. The Generative AI Advantage
4. The Generative AI Advantage
As Generative AI becomes an ever increasing part of modern technology, it also plays an increasing part in the evolution of cognitive search. This hybrid search helps to move the technology beyond simply finding information to synthesizing it.
As Generative AI becomes an ever increasing part of modern technology, it also plays an increasing part in the evolution of cognitive search. This hybrid search helps to move the technology beyond simply finding information to synthesizing it.
As Generative AI becomes an ever increasing part of modern technology, it also plays an increasing part in the evolution of cognitive search. This hybrid search helps to move the technology beyond simply finding information to synthesizing it.
Now, an enterprise search solution can not only retrieve the top five documents about "Q4 marketing strategy," but it can also use a built-in large language model (LLM) to generate a concise summary pulling key points from all of them. This transforms search from a list of links into an immediate, actionable answer, dramatically accelerating decision-making.
Conclusion: Smarter Search for a Smarter Enterprise
Conclusion: Smarter Search for a Smarter Enterprise
Conclusion: Smarter Search for a Smarter Enterprise
Cognitive search is no longer a theoretical concept spoken about just in science fiction; it's a present-day necessity for data-driven organizations. It’s the intelligent layer that connects your employees and customers to the vast treasure trove of knowledge you hold, whether they’re querying a central database or talking to an AI chatbot on the sales floor.
Cognitive search is no longer a theoretical concept spoken about just in science fiction; it's a present-day necessity for data-driven organizations. It’s the intelligent layer that connects your employees and customers to the vast treasure trove of knowledge you hold, whether they’re querying a central database or talking to an AI chatbot on the sales floor.
Cognitive search is no longer a theoretical concept spoken about just in science fiction; it's a present-day necessity for data-driven organizations. It’s the intelligent layer that connects your employees and customers to the vast treasure trove of knowledge you hold, whether they’re querying a central database or talking to an AI chatbot on the sales floor.
By understanding language, learning from interactions, and now, generating insights, cognitive search is the definitive answer to the modern data chaos—evolving enterprise search from a simple utility into a strategic advantage.
By understanding language, learning from interactions, and now, generating insights, cognitive search is the definitive answer to the modern data chaos—evolving enterprise search from a simple utility into a strategic advantage.
By understanding language, learning from interactions, and now, generating insights, cognitive search is the definitive answer to the modern data chaos—evolving enterprise search from a simple utility into a strategic advantage.
Let us introduce you to smarter search.
Let us introduce you to smarter search.
Let us introduce you to smarter search.
At SearchBlox, we offer a variety of cognitive search products for a variety of use cases. To learn more, request a demo of SearchBlox Enterprise Search today.
At SearchBlox, we offer a variety of cognitive search products for a variety of use cases. To learn more, request a demo of SearchBlox Enterprise Search today.
At SearchBlox, we offer a variety of cognitive search products for a variety of use cases. To learn more, request a demo of SearchBlox Enterprise Search today.
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SearchAI is SOC 2 attested, HIPAA aligned, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certified.
We build AI-driven software to help organizations leverage their unstructured, and structured data for operational success.
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060 sales@searchblox.com | (866) 933-3626
Still learning about AI? See our comprehensive Enterprise Search RAG 101, ChatBot 101, and AI Agents 101 guides.
©2025 SearchBlox Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
Enhance your users’ digital experience.
Security & Compliance
Certifications
SearchAI is SOC 2 attested, HIPAA aligned, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certified.
We build AI-driven software to help organizations leverage their unstructured, and structured data for operational success.
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060 sales@searchblox.com | (866) 933-3626
Still learning about AI? See our comprehensive Enterprise Search RAG 101, ChatBot 101, and AI Agents 101 guides.
©2024 SearchBlox Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
Enhance your users’ digital experience.
Security & Compliance
Certifications
SearchAI is SOC 2 attested, HIPAA aligned, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified.
We build AI-driven software to help organizations leverage their unstructured, and structured data for operational success.
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060 sales@searchblox.com | (866) 933-3626
Still learning about AI? See our comprehensive Enterprise Search RAG 101, ChatBot 101, and AI Agents 101 guides.
©2025 SearchBlox Software, Inc. All rights reserved.