That rapid increase is not surprising, google search has gotten really bad, between ads and bad results I am finding myself more and more using other search providers after giving up in frustration with google
A less cynical hypothesis is that the barely-on-topic results are the result of Google's various ML algorithms trying to infer or predict what you were trying to search for based on factors like location, what's currently trendy and what most people with similar terms tend to click on. If this is the case then it makes perfect sense that power-users, the technically oriented and the socially divergent are going to see Google's results decline in relevance over time. I know that I sure have.
But also for a lot of 'searches' you get the answer without having to click a link if you're just looking for the basic info (as well as links to search results if you need more) e.g.:
A less cynical hypothesis is that the barely-on-topic results are the result of Google's various ML algorithms trying to infer or predict what you were trying to search for based on factors like location, what's currently trendy and what most people with similar terms tend to click on. If this is the case then it makes perfect sense that power-users, the technically oriented and the socially divergent are going to see Google's results decline in relevance over time. I know that I sure have.
The story summary does not provide enough context and all the comments so far miss the point and say that this is somehow a failure on Google's part.
No, the point is that those searches presented the information the user was looking for, without them needing to click through to any other site.
e.g. try "sunset tonight" and find out what time the sunset is without having to click through to some other site
But also for a lot of 'searches' you get the answer without having to click a link if you're just looking for the basic info (as well as links to search results if you need more) e.g.:
12 usd as gbp
population of france
weather in london
etc.