OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search product has seemingly made a stealthy entrance into the market. While there hasn’t been an official announcement, evidence suggests that an early version of ChatGPT Search may be part of the GPT-4o rollout. The free 4o version of ChatGPT now informs users about the websites it is searching to provide AI-generated answers and even lists the specific sites it has searched.
Upon closer inspection, it appears that OpenAI is utilizing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) to rewrite queries and perform searches on bing.com, possibly due to their partnership with Microsoft. Additionally, OpenAI previously introduced a web crawler called GPTBot in August, which further adds to the speculation surrounding ChatGPT Search’s launch.
For those who have concerns about content theft and have blocked AI companies like ChatGPT, it may be worth reconsidering. ChatGPT’s answer experience seems to be superior to Google’s AI Overviews, particularly in terms of prominently linking to sources. In a screenshot provided, ChatGPT cites reputable sources such as 9to5Google and Search Engine Land multiple times, indicating its ability to provide reliable information.
When asked if it can search the web, ChatGPT responded affirmatively, explaining that it uses a tool called the browser to find current information, recent events, or detailed answers that are not part of its training data. This suggests that ChatGPT has the capability to retrieve specific information upon request.
Furthermore, ChatGPT is known to crawl links and summarize the information found on webpages. This functionality was shared by Dave Davies, a contributor at Search Engine Land and speaker at SMX Advanced. It appears that ChatGPT Search will offer a unique take on search, differentiating itself from Google’s traditional approach.
OpenAI’s current position as an underdog in the search landscape presents an opportunity for them to challenge Google’s dominance. By combining their large language models (LLMs) with innovative search features, OpenAI has the potential to change the paradigm of search. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed a desire to create something different from Google, emphasizing that the world doesn’t need another Google.
In conclusion, while OpenAI hasn’t officially announced the launch of ChatGPT Search, there is compelling evidence suggesting its existence. With its ability to retrieve information from the web and provide AI-generated answers with reliable sources, ChatGPT Search could potentially disrupt the search industry and offer a fresh alternative to Google’s search engine.
