How OpenAI’s SearchGPT Transforms How We Find Relevant Information Online
Earlier this year, OpenAI announced that it was testing SearchGPT, a prototype for its AI-powered search tools. That beta version has evolved into ChatGPT search, which officially launched on October 31, 2024. What functionalities does this new feature add to ChatGPT and how does it stack up against conventional search engines? Find out as we take a closer look.
How Does the ChatGPT Search Engine Work?
ChatGPT’s new search tool blends traditional search and generative AI. Leveraging an enhanced version of OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, the search engine provides real-time data retrieval—previously unavailable in ChatGPT—and integrates the chatbot’s conversational AI capabilities to give users a more efficient way to find information.
Enabled by OpenAI’s partnerships with data providers, ChatGPT search features new visual elements to enhance certain types of searches. Asking about places, such as restaurants near you, may bring up pins on a map. Inquiries about stocks or the weather return graphs and icons that make the search results clear and digestible.
OpenAI also teamed up with various news organizations and content publishers to ensure the information that comes up in ChatGPT search is accurate and comes from diverse and reputable websites. The Associated Press, Reuters, News Corp, Condé Nast, and Hearst are among the more high-profile publisher partners. However, search results are not necessarily limited to these sources.
Who Has Access to ChatGPT Search?
As soon as it was unveiled, ChatGPT search became available to ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers, along with users who were on the SearchGPT waitlist. Access to Enterprise and Edu users would follow in a few weeks. Eventually, ChatGPT search will also be integrated into the free version, though the full rollout will likely take several months.
Users who already have access to ChatGPT search can try this new feature with ChatGPT’s web platform and both its desktop and mobile apps. They’ll also have the option to install a Chrome extension and make ChatGPT their default browser search engine in Chrome.
How Do You Use ChatGPT’s New Search Feature?
If ChatGPT search is already available to you, you’ll find a new search icon in the text box. Click this to manually launch the search tool. You can also type queries as usual, and ChatGPT will determine whether it should answer based on its training data or search the web for the most recent information. If you inquire about current events, for instance, it will automatically conduct a search and provide live data. Alternatively, you can ask ChatGPT to regenerate a response using a web search. To do this, go to the dropdown menu beside the regenerate button and click “Search the web.”
Clicking the “Sources” button at the bottom of the search results will pull up a sidebar listing the citations in a familiar search engine format. On the desktop platform, you’ll also see inline citations. Hover your cursor over each citation to view or click the linked source.
If you often use ChatGPT and other AI-driven tools, consider switching to a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC like the Acer Swift Go 14 AI Laptop. Powerful processors and advanced AI integration enable this laptop to handle heavier AI workloads with ease.
Initial Impressions of ChatGPT Search
Many reviewers are raving about ChatGPT search and highlighting several ways it’s redefining the search experience. For starters, its response times are just as fast as those of traditional search engines. It also excels in accuracy, especially with simpler searches. It can yield consistently good results across diverse topics, whether searching for general tips, niche topics, or specific details about an event.
What reviewers seem to like most is the clutter-free and conversational interface. Instead of bombarding you with a long list of links, ChatGPT search offers well-organized summaries that actually make sense, so you don’t have to rifle through multiple sources to piece things together. It can even provide contextual explanations, tips, and insights. If you want to know more about something, you can ask follow-up questions in the same thread and ChatGPT will remember the context and adapt to your evolving queries. This makes it great for more in-depth topics where a single search isn’t enough.
Positive feedback about ChatGPT search emphasizes how it’s a smarter, more intuitive way to search online. However, the tool faces challenges like ensuring the quality of sources. It can still be prone to hallucinations and potential biases. Some reviews raise concerns about accuracy, citing instances where the chatbot generated incorrect, outdated, or misleading information.
ChatGPT search is not a perfect tool, but it does show tremendous promise. As OpenAI continues to refine and expand this functionality, the AI-powered approach to enabling interactive searches and synthesizing information can significantly alter how we discover and interact with content online.
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About Micah Sulit: Micah is a writer and editor with a focus on lifestyle topics like tech, wellness, and travel. She loves writing while sipping an iced mocha in a cafe, preferably one in a foreign city. She's based in Manila, Philippines.
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