Google is set to shake up its search results by adding facts and direct answers to its usual list of ranked pages.
Using "semantic search" technology which allows for a better understanding of the true meaning of words, the company hopes to provide more relevant results.
Just Semantics
Google isn't the first search engine to use this search functionality, as Microsoft Bing and Wolfram Alpha already answer direct questions and offer up reports instead of just page listings.
Search rankings are likely to be affected as Google may use semantic search tech to identify specific information contained within web pages, rather than relying on its PageRank algorithm which places more emphasis upon incoming links.
The change, which is due within months, looks to be part of Google's drive to get users spending more time in its ecosystem of products. Earlier this year it added Google+ results to its search results, though the success of that is debatable as compared to Facebook, Google+ is a ghost town.