Exciting news is coming from OpenAI, the tech company based in San Francisco! They have just announced that their artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, now includes a brand-new search feature for all users. This update is a bold move that challenges Google’s dominance in the search engine world.
From Special Feature to Global Access
Previously, the search capabilities powered by ChatGPT were only available to paying subscribers after being introduced in late October. But now, OpenAI has decided to make this incredible feature available to everyone who uses ChatGPT. This means anyone logged in can now access the internet through ChatGPT and get “fast, timely answers” with links to helpful web sources. Before, people had to rely on traditional search engines to find such information.
How ChatGPT’s Search Feature Works
With the upgrade, ChatGPT can provide real-time information by searching the web. OpenAI’s chief product officer, Kevin Weil, shared in a YouTube video that this new feature will be available worldwide on every platform where you can use ChatGPT. This means no matter where you are or what device you’re on, the new search feature is ready for you!
The search results in the new ChatGPT look similar to those from Google and Google Maps, but without any annoying ads. It also resembles Perplexity, another AI-powered search engine known for offering a conversational version of Google, which includes the sources of the information it provides.
Bringing ChatGPT into the Search Game
Adam Fry, the ChatGPT Search product lead, explained in a video that they are making the ChatGPT experience even better with up-to-date information from the web. He stated, “We’re rolling this out to hundreds of millions of users, starting today.” Instead of creating a whole new product, OpenAI has seamlessly integrated this search feature directly into ChatGPT.
Users can turn on the search feature by default or manually activate it with a web search icon. This update is significant because, until now, AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude had limitations with outdated information due to time cutoffs. Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft have been combining AI-generated answers with current web results for some time.
A Step Forward for OpenAI and Microsoft
This addition to ChatGPT raises questions about OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft, which is a major investor in the startup. Microsoft is also trying to grow its Bing search engine to compete with Google. OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, has big plans for the company, aiming to turn it into an internet leader.
Recently, OpenAI reached a jaw-dropping $157 billion valuation during a fundraising event. This included investments from big names like Microsoft, Tokyo-based conglomerate SoftBank, and AI chipmaker Nvidia. Offering new users the ability to search the internet through ChatGPT is a great way to attract more people to the platform, even though it will require more computing power and increase costs.
OpenAI’s latest move to provide internet search to all ChatGPT users marks a significant step in the tech industry. By offering a seamless and ad-free search experience, it presents a real challenge to established search engines like Google. As OpenAI continues to innovate, the future of AI and internet search looks more exciting than ever!