Day after The Atlantic's CEO, Nicholas Thompson, confirmed that OpenAI is working on a search product that will include content from The Atlantic, the artificial intelligence research organization has announced that it is testing a “SearchGPT” prototype with “...a small group of users and publishers to get feedback.”

“We’re testing SearchGPT, a prototype of new search features designed to combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources,” the statement reads.  

SearchGPT and what it offers 

This new tool is designed to make searching faster and more efficient, offering direct, contextually relevant answers along with transparent source citations. Instead of manually searching and filtering through many sources, you could simply ask SearchGPT specific questions and perhaps get a more direct and relevant answer.

For instance, when users use SearchGPT, it will show where the information comes from by including direct citations and links to the original sources within the search results. This way, users can easily see which publishers provided the information and can quickly access more details through a sidebar that lists additional links.

“It just makes the product more useful: it can answer more questions, can incorporate live information, etc. Eager to hear feedback from people and publishers on our prototype,” says Kelvin Weil, Chief Product Officer at OpenAI. 

Also, users can ask follow-ups and interact with the prototype just like you would in a normal human conversation and SearchGPT will keep track of the context of each of your questions. Each follow-up builds on the information from previous queries. allowing exploration of topics.

According to Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, “AI search is going to become one of the key ways that people navigate the internet, and it's crucial, in these early days, that the technology is built in a way that values, respects, and protects journalism and publishers.”

OpenAI looks to collaborate with publishers and creators 

OpenAI wants to build strong relationships with those who produce content, like news sites and independent creators, and make it easier for users to find and enjoy content from publishers and creators.

Therefore, the SearchGPT prototype introduces new features for publishers, allowing them to manage their visibility and engagement within SearchGPT. This approach ensures that sites can be featured in search results independently of their involvement in OpenAI’s generative AI training.

OpenAI is focused on working closely with publishers and creators to enhance the search experience, making it more interactive and conversational. The company previously entered a partnership with The Atlantic, a deal that will give OpenAI the liberty to integrate The Atlantic's content into SearchGPT for the next two years. Similarly, in May, OpenAI collaborated with Reddit to “bring Reddit content to ChatGPT and new products.”

A recent report by Reuters claimed that the AI giant is investing $100 billion in developing a data center alongside Microsoft.

The future of SearchGPT

OpenAI plans to improve SearchGPT further based on user and publisher feedback, with a vision to integrate these advancements into ChatGPT. This will enhance user experience by providing more accurate local information and commercial options.