OpenAI Launches SearchGPT, Challenging Google's Search Dominance
The AI firm's new search tool partners with major publishers, promising timely answers and clear sourcing
OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, has announced the launch of SearchGPT, a new AI-powered search engine that could potentially disrupt Google's long-standing dominance in the search market.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated, "We think there is room to make search much better than it is today. We are launching a new prototype called SearchGPT."
In a blog post, OpenAI revealed, "We're testing SearchGPT, a prototype of new search features designed to combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources."
The company has partnered with prominent publishers, including News Corp and The Atlantic, to provide high-quality content for its search results. This move is seen as a direct challenge to Google, which has faced criticism from publishers regarding its search algorithm in recent years.
SearchGPT aims to offer a conversational interface that highlights publisher content, potentially addressing concerns about AI-powered search tools reducing traffic to news websites. OpenAI stated, "We are committed to a thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators. We hope to help users discover publisher sites and experiences, while bringing more choice to search."
The new search engine is currently in beta testing with a small group of users and publishers. OpenAI plans to integrate the best features of SearchGPT into ChatGPT in the future.
Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corp, expressed support for the initiative, stating that OpenAI's leaders understand that AI-powered search must rely on "the highest-quality, most reliable information furnished by trusted sources".
However, some publishers remain cautious about partnering with tech companies after previous experiences with platforms like Facebook and Google. The New York Times has opted to take legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorised use of its content for AI model training.
As the search landscape evolves, OpenAI's entry into the market could potentially reshape the relationship between AI companies, publishers, and users in the digital information ecosystem.
