Key Highlights

• Launch Date: OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT search, integrating real-time web search into its popular AI chatbot, now positioning itself as a competitor to Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and Perplexity.
• Capabilities: ChatGPT search brings live updates on sports scores, stock prices, news, weather, and more. The feature leverages partnerships with major news and data providers to keep users informed.
• Beta Testing: Previously known as “SearchGPT,” this feature was beta-tested in July. Now officially part of ChatGPT, it allows users to interact with search results more conversationally.

A Rising Rival to Google and Bing

With ChatGPT search, OpenAI takes aim at Google’s longstanding dominance in the search market. Since ChatGPT launched in 2022, Google’s investors have speculated about OpenAI’s disruptive potential. Now, with ChatGPT search, that vision is closer to reality. Powered by OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4, users can ask questions conversationally, request follow-ups, and receive dynamic, real-time results. This move could attract users seeking a more intuitive search experience.

OpenAI’s new feature could also impact Microsoft’s products. Microsoft, which has invested nearly $14 billion in OpenAI, now sees its tools like Bing and Copilot potentially competing against ChatGPT’s integrated search functionality. This mixed alliance positions OpenAI and Microsoft as both partners and rivals.

CEO Sam Altman’s Vision and Future Plans

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed strong enthusiasm for ChatGPT’s search capabilities. In a Reddit AMA, he described it as his “favorite feature we have launched” since ChatGPT’s debut. Altman envisions a future where ChatGPT search can dynamically create custom web pages for more complex queries, especially for topics like shopping or research. OpenAI has integrated user feedback from its SearchGPT prototype to refine the current feature, with plans for continuous improvements.

Enhanced User Experience

To provide a smoother experience, ChatGPT now includes a “Sources” button, allowing users to view referenced articles and blogs in each answer. It’s backed by partnerships with trusted media outlets like The Associated Press, Reuters, Condé Nast, and others, making ChatGPT a reliable source of information.

ChatGPT Plus, Team users, and waitlisted individuals for SearchGPT can access ChatGPT search immediately. Enterprise and Edu users will gain access in the next few weeks, and free version users will be able to use it over the coming months.

Financial Milestones and Growth

Earlier this month, OpenAI closed a significant funding round at a valuation of $157 billion, secured a $4 billion credit line, and received investments from prominent firms. Despite recent controversies, executive departures, and questions around its safety standards, OpenAI is pushing forward, betting big on integrating real-time search into ChatGPT’s AI capabilities.