ChatGPT Search, the AI-driven search engine, was previously accessible only to users with an OpenAI account. However, OpenAI has now announced that this feature is open to everyone, including those without an account.
Originally known as SearchGPT, the feature was launched in October of last year for paying ChatGPT subscribers and later made available to free-tier users. Until now, users needed to log in to access the service.
ChatGPT’s search capability seamlessly combines search results with conversational AI, providing answers that include links to trustworthy sources. According to a blog post from OpenAI, the technology behind this feature is an enhanced version of GPT-4o, with potential updates to a more recent version.
This latest development suggests that OpenAI aims to compete with major search engines like Google and Bing. In contrast to conventional search engines, which often focus narrowly on search terms and can overlook nuances, ChatGPT Search understands user queries more comprehensively and presents information in a user-friendly format. To use ChatGPT Search, simply click on the Search button located beneath the text input area.
Similar to Google, users can set ChatGPT Search as their default search engine in their preferred web browser. Additionally, in December, OpenAI incorporated map functionality into ChatGPT, allowing users to access information about nearby restaurants and businesses based on current data.
