ChatGPT, the AI chatbot, is now a search engine too! OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has given it the power to search the internet for real-time information. Will this new advancement be a threat to Google or Microsoft…only time will tell…
OpenAI has officially launched ChatGPT Search, a new feature within its ChatGPT chatbot, aiming to compete with major search engines like Google and Microsoft’s Bing. This tool allows users to access real-time information, including news, sports scores, stock prices, and weather, thanks to OpenAI’s partnerships with news and data providers. ChatGPT users can now get quick answers directly from the web, adding a new layer of functionality to the AI chatbot.
ChatGPT Search, previously known as SearchGPT during its beta phase, has been fine-tuned based on user feedback since its testing began in July 2024. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote Thursday on X that search is his “favorite feature we have launched” on ChatGPT since the bot’s debut in 2022. “I find it to be a way faster/easier way to get the information I’m looking for,” Altman added on Reddit. Altman also hinted at plans for future enhancements, such as integrating shopping and travel features, while potentially allowing queries to generate custom web pages tailored to users’ needs.
Shift In Dynamics?
The new feature represents a competitive shift in the search landscape. Since ChatGPT’s launch in November 2022, OpenAI has posed an increasing challenge to Google’s dominance in search. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been under pressure from investors to maintain its lead, especially as ChatGPT’s conversational style appeals to users looking for natural, intuitive interactions. Alphabet’s shares dropped around 1% following OpenAI’s announcement, reflecting the concern over market competition.
Microsoft, which has invested almost $14 billion in OpenAI, faces its own unique position. OpenAI’s advancements directly compete with Microsoft’s Bing and AI tools, like Copilot. In a recent Reddit AMA, OpenAI’s engineering VP, Srinivas Narayanan, confirmed that ChatGPT Search uses several services, with Bing as one of the significant sources.
Currently, ChatGPT Search is available to users subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Team, and those on the SearchGPT waitlist, with plans to expand access to other user tiers in the coming months. This launch also follows a significant funding round, which valued OpenAI at $157 billion and provided it with over $10 billion in liquidity.
