OpenAI has launched an advanced web-integrated search feature, ChatGPT Search, embedded directly in its ChatGPT platform. This new feature was unveiled in July this year. Building on the capabilities of the prior SearchGPT prototype, ChatGPT Search now offers “timely answers” using a refined GPT-4 model to pull information from a broad array of sources, including breaking news, sports, and financial data.
Notably, users can now initiate searches directly or let ChatGPT determine when to search, with responses featuring both in-line and sidebar attribution to sources. This new feature is currently available for ChatGPT Plus and Team users and will expand to enterprise and free-tier users in the coming months.
OpenAI has aimed to balance content presentation with its partners’ needs, using input from news industry feedback to refine how ChatGPT sources and displays article summaries. Future plans include expanding search capabilities for voice-mode users and enhancing performance in specific sectors like shopping and travel.
Despite enthusiasm, AI-generated content overviews have raised concerns among publishers who worry about potential traffic loss, as evidenced by studies indicating a possible 25% drop in site visits. OpenAI however says it is committed to addressing these concerns, focusing on providing meaningful traffic flow to original content creators and balancing its new search capability with ethical information-sharing practices.
Search will be available at chatgpt.com(opens in a new window), as well as on desktop and mobile apps. All ChatGPT Plus and Team users, as well as SearchGPT waitlist users, will have access as from today, the 31st of October. Enterprise and Edu users will get access in the next few weeks. It will be rolled out for all Free users over the coming months.
