OpenAI has extended its AI-powered web search feature, ChatGPT Search, to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier.
By default, ChatGPT will decide when to use its Search feature to address user queries. Users also have the option to start a web search manually by selecting the newly added “Search the web” button in the ChatGPT interface. This feature provides concise answers sourced from various online platforms, enriched with content such as embedded images and YouTube videos.
Initially launched in October as an advancement of OpenAI’s SearchGPT prototype, ChatGPT Search is powered by a refined version of the GPT-4 model. It delivers real-time information, including sports scores, news updates, and stock market data, accompanied by links to relevant sources. Users can engage in follow-up questions to further refine their search results.
OpenAI has also enhanced the tool’s performance, making it faster, and it can now be set as the default search engine in any web browser. The mobile experience has been improved as well, offering better-organized business information, such as addresses and phone numbers, with integration into Apple Maps on iOS devices.
Moreover, ChatGPT Search is now incorporated into Advanced Voice Mode, OpenAI’s feature for real-time conversations with ChatGPT. In the coming days, users will be able to access up-to-date web information while using Advanced Voice Mode on both mobile and desktop platforms.
Some publishers have expressed concerns that AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT Search may reduce traffic to their websites by providing direct answers to user queries. OpenAI has stated that it is incorporating feedback from partners to improve how ChatGPT Search selects relevant articles, determines summary lengths, and includes appropriate quotations, aiming to address these concerns.
