Back when ChatGPT was a novelty, its main point of weakness was that it had no direct access to the internet and solely relied on the information provided in its training data. Now, OpenAI has released its very own search engine.
On Oct. 31, OpenAI introduced SearchGPT, an AI-powered search engine with a natural language interface that can access news on current events and up-to-date information. ChatGPT Plus and Team users as well as SearchGPT waitlist users have had access to the new function since its release date, and it will be rolled out for Free users “over the coming months.” It is not a separate technology but rather a feature integrated with the normal ChatGPT interface.
According to OpenAI’s article, the search model builds on a customized version of GPT-4o, further enhanced through synthetic data generation methods, or in other words, the generation of artificial data that resembles real-world data. ChatGPT search gathers information from third-party search engines and trusted content from partner organizations to answer users’ queries.
SearchGPT offers a novel advancement to traditional search engines. You can ask the chatbot a question in a “natural, conservational way” and ChatGPT will answer with relevant information pulled from the internet. For instance, if you were to ask, “Where should I eat in Pittsburgh, PA?”, SearchGPT may present a list of possible restaurants, complete with brief descriptions, source links, and images. Users can also ask follow-up questions or browse through related links on a sidebar to further narrow and refine the results. In a pre-launch demonstration, Adam Fry, OpenAI’s product management lead, showed how SearchGPT can also return interactive images, using stock graphs as an example.
The introduction of ChatGPT’s search tool has another implication: It acts as a significant step towards addressing “hallucinations” in AI responses — when AI generates incorrect or fabricated information. By citing and directly linking to sources, this tool empowers users to check the origin and accuracy of the provided information. While it doesn’t completely eliminate errors or potential inaccuracies, it is a way for users to verify facts, potentially increasing the reliability of ChatGPT’s answers.
SearchGPT could be a new competitor for Google, whose near-total control of the search market has kept alternatives at bay. OpenAI’s real-time information retrieval and ability to receive follow-up questions may offer a unique advantage for users looking for a more interactive search method without sacrificing accuracy. Challenging such a monopoly in the industry will prove difficult, especially with Google’s established role, but OpenAI’s momentum — including its recent high valuation and significant funding — may make it a formidable player.