
OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Search to All Users with New Features | Image Source: techcrunch.com
San Francisco, December 16, 2024 – OpenAI launched its web search tool, ChatGPT Search, to all users, free and premium, as well as a set of new improvements. According to TechCrunch, this important update marks an evolution in OpenAI’s efforts to integrate real-time web information into its ChatGPT product, thus strengthening its role as a versatile search tool. The expansion follows the initial limited version in October, where the tool was available exclusively for premium subscribers.
ChatGPT The search allows users to obtain summary answers from several online sources, enriched with additional content such as integrated YouTube photos and videos. By default, ChatGPT now determines which requests require online responses, although users can also manually activate the tool using the “Find the Web” icon in the interface. This simplified access allows faster and more complete responses for topics such as news, sports scores, action updates and general information, while providing direct links to original sources.
Increased speed and accessibility
As part of the latest improvements, OpenAI has made ChatGPT Search faster and easier to use on multiple platforms. At a live announcement on Monday, OpenAI revealed that ChatGPT Search could now be established as the default search engine on web browsers, offering an alternative to traditional search tools. OpenAI also highlighted the improvement of its mobile search experience, a movement aimed at improving the utility of the user in the race.
For mobile users, the update includes the best research results organized for business-related issues, such as addresses and telephone numbers. According to TechCrunch, iOS users will see deeper integration with Apple Maps when searching for business sites via the ChatGPT app. These improvements should make ChatGPT a more perfect tool for everyday use, especially in real scenarios where users need instant and well structured information.
Advanced voice mode integration
Another outstanding feature of the update is the inclusion of ChatGPT Search in OpenAI’s advanced voice mode. The advanced voice mode, OpenAI’s real-time chat capability, now allows users to access up-to-date web information via voice commands. This addition improves the overall utility of ChatGPT for mobile and desktop users, facilitating participation with AI tool in real-time scenarios. According to OpenAI, users can expect full integration of online voice searches in the coming days.
OpenAI considers these improvements to be crucial to its growth strategy. As noted by TechCrunch, the company intends to refine its web search capabilities to provide users with accurate, timely and enhanced responses. However, challenges remain, particularly with respect to AI’s ability to effectively filter and summarize information, which has sometimes been a critical issue.
Balancing innovation with publishers’ concerns
The increasing use of AI-led research tools, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT research, has raised concerns among publishers. Some media expressed dissatisfaction, saying that these tools can nullify web traffic by summarizing content rather than driving users to original sources. According to TechCrunch, Google’s AI Previews, a similar search function focused on AI, could negatively affect up to 25% of publisher traffic. This loss is due to reduced visibility and fewer steps on external websites.
OpenAI acknowledged these concerns and stated that it incorporated feedback from partners to address how ChatGPT Search works. Specifically, the company has worked to improve how articles are selected, summarized and cited to ensure fair representation. In refining its methodology, OpenAI aims to strike a balance between providing value to users and maintaining a symbiotic relationship with content publishers.
Evolution of SearchGPT Prototype
ChatGPT Research represents the next phase of OpenAI exploration in AI-based research. According to TechCrunch, the tool was born from the SearchGPT prototype, presented by OpenAI in early summer. Using a well interpreted version of GPT-4, ChatGPT Search not only offers accurate and real-time information, but also allows users to refine their queries for better results. The possibility of asking follow-up questions ensures a dynamic and conversational search experience that traditional search engines have not yet fully replicated.
While some testers, including the TechCrunch Max Zeff reporter, have previously found ChatGPT Search to produce inconsistent results, OpenAI remains committed to continuous improvements. The company sees this as an essential component of its expanded AI ecosystem, providing a perspective on the future of how people will interact with online information.
OpenAI’s broader objective is to create a perfect integration of AI into daily research tasks, making the tool a viable alternative to existing research platforms. By expanding access to paid and unpaid users, OpenAI increases the adoption and positioning of ChatGPT Search as a primary option for information retrieval.
According to OpenAI, comments from the growing user base will play a crucial role in further improvements. The company plans to take advantage of this entry to address user concerns and improve overall accuracy, speed and user friendliness.
With real-time search capabilities, advanced integration into voice mode and mobile features, ChatGPT Search represents a significant step forward for the OpenAI platform. As competition in the AI research landscape is heated, OpenAI’s latest movement indicates its ambition to lead the market while meeting the changing needs of users and publishers.