OpenAI has launched SearchGPT, a search feature within its ChatGPT platform. The company aims to compete with major search engines like Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and Perplexity AI. OpenAI says this update will provide "timely answers." It pulls data from the web via partnerships with news and data providers.

From prototype to launch

OpenAI first tested a prototype, “SearchGPT,” in July with a small group of 10,000 users. The new search engine is integrated directly into the ChatGPT platform. When users ask questions, ChatGPT can either search the web on its own or respond to a prompt to search using a dedicated web search icon.

According to the platform, users can get real-time information on sports scores, news, stock quotes, weather, and more. 

Accessibility and rollout

SearchGPT is now live for paid subscribers. This includes ChatGPT Plus, Team, and SearchGPT users. It will be rolled out to free users over the next few months. It is available on iOS, Android, and desktop for macOS and Windows.

OpenAI also released a Chrome extension that lets users set SearchGPT as their default search engine. OpenAI is also working to make the feature accessible to logged-out users and integrate it with the platform’s Advanced Voice Mode.

OpenAI’s spokesperson, Niko Felix, shared that the company will keep updating its training data even with live search active, ensuring that users have the latest advancements. 

No ads in SearchGPT

According to Felix, unlike Google's ad-supported model, OpenAI has "no plans" to add ads in SearchGPT. The model behind SearchGPT is an updated version of GPT-4. The company said it was optimized through unique data-generation methods and partnerships with search providers.

Partnering with publishers

OpenAI has partnered with major publishers. This includes a multi-year deal with Condé Nast to integrate content into AI products. This integration lets publishers have some control over how their content appears in ChatGPT’s search results. The platform said publishers can choose to opt out of OpenAI’s web crawler, and it won’t bypass paywalls.

Data scraping concerns

Data usage and scraping have been a concern for AI-driven search engines. Earlier this year, Forbes and Wired sued Perplexity AI for allegedly scraping content without permission. The New York Times also sued OpenAI, accusing the company of using its material to train its large language models. OpenAI stated that it is collaborating with publishing partners to ensure responsible content usage.

Some publishers also worry about traffic loss, as AI-generated search overviews may discourage users from clicking through to original articles. One study even suggested that these AI summaries could reduce publisher traffic by up to 25%.

OpenAI says it has no plan to share revenue from SearchGPT content with publishers. Microsoft and Perplexity have taken steps to address publisher concerns. Perplexity has opted to compensate publishers. Microsoft says it plans to pay publishers whose content supports its AI tools, including Bing’s Copilot.

Competition

The launch of SearchGPT adds to the competition in AI-powered search. Meta is reportedly working on an AI search engine, and Google recently expanded its AI Overviews to over 100 countries. 

OpenAI's new feature helps it compete with rivals like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. They already offer real-time search in their AI systems.

Produced by
Nelson Oboh
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