OpenAI Enters Search Market with New ChatGPT Search Feature
OpenAI has unveiled a significant upgrade to its popular ChatGPT platform, adding a new search function that enables the AI chatbot to retrieve real-time information from the web.
This move, announced on Thursday, positions OpenAI as a formidable player in the search industry, bringing direct competition to tech giants such as Google and Microsoft’s Bing, as well as new platforms like Perplexity, an AI search service supported by Jeff Bezos and Nvidia.
The enhanced search capability allows ChatGPT to access up-to-date information and offer users relevant answers, complete with links to external sources. By collaborating with third-party search providers and major content partners, OpenAI aims to meet user demands for reliable and current data.
“ChatGPT search leverages third-party search providers, as well as content provided directly by our partners, to provide the information users are looking for,” OpenAI stated in a recent blog post.
The upgraded search tool is integrated into a specialized version of the GPT-4 model and is currently available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with plans for gradual expansion to enterprise, educational customers, and eventually, free users over the coming months.
This latest development reflects OpenAI’s strategy to rival Google’s search dominance and capitalize on Microsoft’s existing investment in AI search technologies.
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OpenAI also joins a growing list of companies venturing into the search market through AI-driven models.
To support the feature, OpenAI has inked deals with several high-profile media organizations, including Condé Nast, Time Magazine, the Financial Times, Axel Springer, Le Monde, and Prisa Media.
The company worked closely with these publishers to refine the search function, and it invites other websites and publishers to participate as well.
The announcement follows the selective launch of SearchGPT, a prototype with real-time web access, released in July. The new search capabilities are seen as a major milestone for OpenAI as it deepens its offerings and expands into competitive tech territories.
In October, OpenAI raised $6.6 billion in new funding, propelling its valuation to around $157 billion and cementing its position as one of the world’s most valuable private tech companies. The funding round was led by Thrive Capital and included prominent investors like Khosla Ventures, Altimeter Capital, and Fidelity Management & Research Company.
Longtime partners Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. also contributed to this round, alongside new supporters like SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi-based MGX.
This latest financing bolsters OpenAI’s ambitious path under CEO Sam Altman, whose vision continues to shape the startup’s pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence. As OpenAI makes strides into the search market, it sets the stage for increased competition and innovation in AI-powered information retrieval.
