OpenAI has officially introduced ChatGPT Search, a new tool developed as a competitor to Google Search. The release, announced on Thursday, represents an update of the SearchGPT prototype that OpenAI had initially revealed over the summer. Integrated within the ChatGPT platform, ChatGPT Search aims to provide users with accurate and timely answers by gathering information from a variety of online sources.
This search tool operates using a refined version of OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, known as GPT-4o, which allows it to present a range of data, such as sports scores, news, stock market information, and other relevant content. ChatGPT Search also offers links to original sources, enabling users to explore these topics in greater depth. Users have the option to follow up with additional questions to refine their search. ChatGPT may initiate a web search automatically based on the query or allow users to manually activate the search function by clicking on a designated web search icon.
For each response, ChatGPT Search provides source attribution both within the text and in a sidebar. This feature acknowledges news publishers and other data providers with whom OpenAI has established licensing agreements. For instance, a search related to weekend events in San Francisco might display information sourced from local news outlets, while a follow-up question regarding dining options would produce a list of restaurant recommendations. Questions specifically about elections would draw information from reputable sources like the Associated Press and Reuters.
At present, ChatGPT Search is available to ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers on both mobile and web platforms. OpenAI has indicated that its enterprise and education clients will gain access in the upcoming weeks, followed later by free users.
OpenAI has also shared its intention to enhance ChatGPT Search further, especially for topics related to shopping and travel. The company plans to leverage its “reasoning” models to allow for deeper research capabilities. Additionally, OpenAI aims to extend ChatGPT Search access to its Advanced Voice Mode feature and to users who are not logged into the ChatGPT platform.
Despite the potential advantages, some publishers have raised concerns about the implications of AI-generated overviews like ChatGPT Search and Google’s own AI Overviews. Publishers argue that these tools could reduce site traffic, as users might get the main points from summaries instead of visiting original articles. Research has indicated that AI-generated summaries may result in up to a 25% drop in traffic for publishers due to less emphasis on direct links to full articles.
OpenAI has responded to publisher feedback by refining how ChatGPT Search determines which articles best fit a user’s query, as well as by adjusting the length and structure of the summaries and quotations drawn from these sources.
