Nice. I searched for four scenarios. Apparently, one can train the engine, as discovered in the 4th scenario. In that, it said that it couldn't automatically build a square about the topic and asked me to enter up to 5 examples. I entered Alan Turing, Alan Perlis, John McCarthy, Donald E. Knuth, C.A.R. Hoare. I was delighted to see that Google Squared built the square and added names of Norbert Weiner and Claude Shanon to it.
This is a good application of machine learning.
Scenario 1: "renaissance artists" florence
Squared: http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=%22renaissance+artists%22+florence
Web Search: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=%22renaissance+artists%22+florence&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=%22renaissance+artists%22+florence&aqi=&fp=1mZ_-PL2Zjc
Scenario 2: "open source" "cryptographically strong" "random number generators"
Squared: http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=%22open+source%22+%22cryptographically+strong%22+%22random+number+generators%22
Web search: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=%22open+source%22+%22cryptographically+strong%22+%22random+number+generators%22&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=%22open+source%22+%22cryptographically+strong%22+%22random+number+generators%22&aqi=&fp=1mZ_-PL2Zjc
Scenario 3: "string theory" problems
Squared: http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=%22string+theory%22+problems
Web search: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=%22string+theory%22+problems&aq=&oq=&aqi=&fp=1mZ_-PL2Zjc
Scenario 4: "mathematicians" "computer scientists"
Squared: http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=mathematicians+%22computer+scientists%22
Web Search: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=mathematicians+%22computer+scientists%22&aq=f&oq=%22open+source%22+%22cryptographically+strong%22+%22random+number+generators%22&
Google Sets (http://labs.google.com/sets) was one of the earlier things available in Google Labs, back when it was just a dumping ground for weird stuff (as opposed to one for non-mainstream features). I'd guess this is where the technology used to generate the square from the samples comes from.
I also wouldn't call it training, for what it's worth. I punched in the same query, and was asked (like you were) to provide some samples - shouldn't (ideally) it know that it's not known this before, and use the samples you suggested?
Would you trust a single input for immediate future use?
If so, Google Square has some Viagra to sell you...
In other words: A single user can never be trusted when they know nothing else about you - if they did, the spammers would be out in force as soon as it got any traction at all.
Great, I tried the same query. Description says Alan Turing was born in Orrisa, India but Place of Birth field says London. I think such inconsistencies might limit the use of Google Sqaured for serious research.
I used it to compare televisions (I'm thinking about buying one) and it was surprisingly useful. It definitely reduces a lot of the noise around doing side-by-side comparisons of multiple products. The data was VERY complete, I am impressed.
Oh sorry, I re-read the article. It says Alan Turing was conceived, and not born, in Orissa, India. Apparently, Google is better than humans at interpreting text :)
PS: I am not sure if place where Alan Turing was conceived is an apt information. Why would anyone want to know that?
This is a good application of machine learning.