OpenAI challenges Google with ChatGPT’s new real-time web search feature

OpenAI announced a significant upgrade to its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, on Thursday, adding search engine capabilities to provide users with real-time information directly from the web.

This update positions ChatGPT as a competitor to Google’s longstanding dominance in online search.

With the new search functionality, ChatGPT can now deliver “quick, up-to-date answers” complete with links to relevant sources, offering information traditionally found through search engines. This addition also allows ChatGPT to display direct tabs for information like weather updates, stock prices, sports results, and breaking news, sourced from partners such as France’s Le Monde, Germany’s Axel Springer, and the UK’s Financial Times, reported AFP.

The layout of ChatGPT’s updated interface resembles Google’s search results, with a streamlined design that’s free from ads.

It also mirrors elements of Perplexity, an AI-powered search tool known for its conversational approach and referenced sources. Notably, both OpenAI and Perplexity are navigating legal challenges from publishers, such as The New York Times, over the use of copyrighted content.

Currently, the search function is available for ChatGPT’s paying subscribers, with plans to extend access to free-tier users soon.

Users can activate this feature by default or by selecting a web search icon, and any publisher can opt in to be included in ChatGPT’s search results. OpenAI is actively collecting feedback from content creators to improve the experience.

The real-time search addresses one of the previous limitations of AI chatbots: a reliance on outdated data due to time restrictions. Unlike Google and Microsoft, which combine AI answers with live search results, OpenAI had not yet integrated a direct web-search capability into ChatGPT.

CEO Sam Altman shared his enthusiasm for the feature on social media, calling it his “favorite feature” launched since ChatGPT’s inception in 2022, and emphasized that it offers a faster, more convenient way to find information.

The addition of search also raises questions about OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft, a major investor aiming to grow Bing’s market share against Google.

As OpenAI enhances ChatGPT’s capabilities, it may increase computing demands and operating costs, which are already substantial. Recently, OpenAI’s valuation reached $157 billion, driven by investments from Microsoft, SoftBank, and Nvidia.