Google launched its Knowledge Graph in 2012. The announcement came on May 16, 2012, introducing a system designed to understand real-world entities and their relationships rather than merely matching strings of keywords.
The Knowledge Graph changed how Google presented information. Searches for people, places, organizations, or things could produce an information panel alongside ordinary links. These panels were built from multiple sources, including Freebase, Wikipedia, and the CIA World Factbook, and were intended to help users discover related facts more quickly.
A common mix-up is confusing the Knowledge Graph with the Knowledge Panel. The Knowledge Graph is the underlying database of entities and connections; the Knowledge Panel is the visible box that may appear in search results. The feature also began with limited availability and expanded internationally later in 2012.
Google's launch reflected a broader shift from traditional keyword search toward semantic search. Instead of treating “Taj Mahal” only as text, the system could distinguish among the monument, a musician, a casino, or another entity based on context.