OpenAI adds new search function to ChatGPT
OpenAI introduces a new search feature in ChatGPT, aiming to compete with Google. On Thursday, OpenAI introduced a new set of search functions to its popular ChatGPT language model, choosing to embed the feature directly into the chatbot rather than releasing a separate product.
This move brings OpenAI into a domain long led by Alphabet’s Google and positions it to compete with Microsoft’s Bing, as well as emerging services like Perplexity — a search-focused AI chatbot firm backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia.
OpenAI stated that ChatGPT’s search will respond to user queries by searching the web, providing quick, timely answers with links to relevant sources.
“ChatGPT search uses third-party search providers and content from our partners to deliver the information users seek,” OpenAI shared in a blog post.
The search model is a customized version of GPT-4, according to OpenAI, and is now available to all ChatGPT Plus and Team users.
Enterprise and educational customers will gain access to these new features in the coming weeks, with availability for free users expected over the next few months.
This year, the Sam Altman-led company has secured content agreements with several major publishers, including Condé Nast, Time magazine, the Financial Times, Axel Springer (owner of Business Insider), France’s Le Monde, and Spain’s Prisa Media.
OpenAI mentioned that it worked closely with the news industry, gathering extensive feedback from its partners on the search functionality. Any website or publisher can choose to be included in ChatGPT search.
In July, OpenAI introduced SearchGPT, a prototype AI search engine with real-time internet access.
Earlier in October, OpenAI raised $6.6 billion from investors, potentially valuing the company at $157 billion, solidifying its status as one of the most valuable private companies globally.
EXAMPLES
| Feature | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Search Function Integration | Built into ChatGPT as a feature for direct answers to queries, without a separate product | Standalone search engine with various integrated services |
| Information Sources | Uses third-party search providers and content from partners, including news publishers | Web crawling and indexing from a wide range of sources |
| Target Audience | Initially ChatGPT Plus, Team, and enterprise/education users; rollout for free users soon | General audience with no access restriction for standard Google search |
| Real-time Information | Provides real-time web search with relevant link references for users’ questions | Real-time search but depends on crawling and indexing frequency |
| Publisher Partnerships | Agreements with publishers like Condé Nast, Financial Times, Le Monde, and others | Limited formal partnerships; generally indexes publisher sites unless opted out |
| User Interface | Chat-based interface with natural language query handling | Traditional search interface with query-based and increasingly AI-enhanced results |
| Custom Model for Search | Uses a fine-tuned version of GPT-4 to deliver search-specific responses | Uses RankBrain, BERT, and other models for query understanding |
| Latest Prototype | Released SearchGPT in July, with direct internet access | Google has been enhancing its AI capabilities, with Bard as an experimental conversational AI |
| Company Valuation | Recently raised $6.6 billion, valuing OpenAI at an estimated $157 billion | Google, owned by Alphabet, is valued at over $1 trillion |