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Microsoft gives Live Search a Powerset boost

Ina Fried CNET News

Published: 18 Sep 2008 09:38 BST

It will take some time for Microsoft to make full use of the technology acquired through the purchase of natural-language search company Powerset.

However, Microsoft said on Wednesday that the earliest fruits of the deal are now evident in its Live Search product.

Microsoft's Live Search now uses technology from Powerset to help generate related search terms at the right of the search window. (Credit: Microsoft)

In a blog posting, the company said it had completed three Powerset integration projects, giving: a set of direct answers using Freebase, improved captions for Wikipedia results, and new related searches using the Factz engine. Microsoft closed the deal to buy Powerset last month.

"Since Wikipedia articles show up in a large percentage of Live Search queries, it's important that the captions are top notch," Powerset's Mark Johnson wrote in the blog posting.

"These changes are transparent to the end user, but we'll be able to analyse the Powerset captions versus the Live Search captions to see which perform better," wrote Johnson.

Powerset is now also using some Live Search technology on its site to display related topics, Johnson said.

Microsoft is counting on tailored search and other changes in the business to allow it to catch up with market leader Google.

In addition to Powerset's ability to help out on the algorithmic side of search, Microsoft also sees potential in using natural-language search to generate more relevant paid search.

Powerset taps Freebase Answers to provide an informational link at the top of a list of search results for the Chrysler Building. (Credit: Microsoft)

Credit: Live Search gets a Powerset boost from CNET News