Shlau
What is semantic search?
Semantic search matches your query to conceptually related content — even when the words differ. Searching "weekend hike near the coast" can find a saved trail guide that never used the word "hike."
Beyond keyword matching
Traditional search fails when you forgot the title. Semantic search uses embeddings to compare meaning, so vague descriptions still work.
Built for how memory works
You remember fragments — who sent it, what it was about — not filenames. Semantic search is designed for that kind of recall.
Works on mixed content
The same index can span links, transcripts, and PDFs because search operates on extracted meaning, not just URLs.
Less tagging discipline
When search understands context, you rely less on perfect folder names or tag hygiene.
Frequently asked questions
- How is semantic search different from Google search?
- Google searches the public web. Semantic search in a personal app searches only your saved items and ranks by meaning within your private archive.
- Does semantic search need exact keywords?
- No. Phrases like "the apartment voice note from Marco" can match a transcript even if you never typed "apartment" when saving.
- Does Shlau use semantic search?
- Yes. Shlau indexes what you forward and lets you retrieve items by describing what you need in everyday language.
- Is semantic search the same as AI chat?
- Related but different. Semantic search retrieves your saved items; chat can summarize or answer using them. Shlau focuses on finding what you already saved.