Presearch's search engine, already in use internally since 2013, is launching in beta this September. Blockchain technology and AI will be supplemented with curation by subject matter experts.

Founder and project lead Colin Pape, who previously launched the e-commerce site ShopCity.com, said:

"While Google is generally thought of as a neutral entity for search, the company answers to Wall Street and operates very secretively.

"They've become known for promoting themselves at the expense of alternatives and appropriating others' information, blaming it on 'the algorithm.' The reality is that they manipulate results and justify changes as being best for the user."