Google has introduced a new search algorithm called Hummingbird that is designed to better understand the meaning and context behind search queries. Hummingbird still uses aspects of previous algorithms like Panda and Penguin, but represents an entirely new system. It aims to go beyond just finding pages that match search terms and instead comprehend concepts like locations, specific products, and the intent behind questions. The update could help Google return more relevant results by grasping the actual topic being searched for rather than solely matching keywords.