OpenAI announced on Thursday a significant upgrade to ChatGPT, introducing advanced web search functions directly within the popular chatbot. Instead of launching a new product, the company opted to enhance its existing model, giving ChatGPT users the ability to access real-time information from the web, a feature that places OpenAI in competition with Google and Microsoft’s Bing.
The updated ChatGPT, which uses a fine-tuned version of the GPT-4o model, will determine when to initiate a web search based on user queries, providing quick answers with citations. This move represents a strategic shift as OpenAI challenges search engine giants in the AI-driven search space.
“ChatGPT search leverages third-party search providers, as well as content provided directly by our partners, to provide the information users are looking for,” OpenAI explained in a blog post. Initially, the new search capability will be available to all ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with plans to extend it to enterprise and educational customers in the coming weeks. Free-tier users can expect access in the coming months.
The new feature comes as OpenAI seeks to expand its reach into real-time information retrieval. In addition to its AI advancements, OpenAI has recently secured content partnerships with major publishers such as Condé Nast, Time, Axel Springer, France’s Le Monde, and Spain’s Prisa Media. This allows ChatGPT to present users with reliable sources, enhancing the credibility of its answers.
The company has also introduced user-friendly features to improve interaction. Users can start a search simply by asking a question or clicking a globe icon next to the input bar for manual search. For questions with online sources, users can view citations through a “Sources” button, offering easy access to further reading.
Incorporating feedback from its publishing partners, OpenAI aims to support information transparency with its citation function, allowing publishers to appear in search results.
OpenAI’s move is underscored by its recent financial boost, having raised $6.6 billion, potentially valuing the company at $157 billion and positioning it as one of the world’s most valuable private tech firms. Earlier in October, the company had selectively rolled out a prototype, SearchGPT, which provided internet-accessed real-time data in search results.
