OpenAI has upgraded its ChatGPT chatbot by adding built-in web search, a feature that allows the AI to deliver real-time information, marking a significant shift in the landscape of online search. With this enhancement, users can obtain fast, up-to-date answers complete with links to reliable sources—a service previously limited to traditional search engines like Google.
ChatGPT’s homepage now provides a seamless experience for users to access current data on diverse topics, from weather updates to financial data, all within the AI’s clean, ad-free interface.
This new search feature showcases a streamlined display similar to Google’s search results, but without the clutter of advertisements. OpenAI’s content partnerships with major media outlets, including Le Monde in France, Germany’s Axel Springer, and the UK’s Financial Times, enable the chatbot to provide credible, linked information while respecting content creators’ rights.
In a move toward transparency, OpenAI has also given publishers the option to join the ChatGPT search index, allowing them to be featured in search results. This approach is intended to improve the user experience and enable content providers to share feedback that helps refine the search feature.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has praised the new functionality, calling it his “favorite feature” added to ChatGPT since its launch in 2022. Initially available to paying subscribers, the tool will eventually roll out to free-tier users, potentially bringing the power of web search to a wider audience.
Unlike Google and Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing, which combine search results with AI-driven insights, ChatGPT’s ad-free approach offers users a cleaner experience.
The integration of web search in ChatGPT also underscores OpenAI’s ambition to become a key player in the internet ecosystem. The expansion could have a considerable impact on OpenAI’s operational demands, already substantial due to the platform’s intense computing requirements. The feature arrives as OpenAI recently achieved a USD 157 billion valuation, backed by investors like Microsoft, SoftBank, and Nvidia.
