OpenAI may be entering the search engine market, challenging not only emerging platforms like Perplexity but also giants like Google and Bing.
On Wednesday, the company launched SearchGPT, a new search tool designed to provide “timely answers” by retrieving information from the web.
On the surface, SearchGPT is similar to OpenAI’s chatbot platform, ChatGPT. Users can type a query, and SearchGPT returns text and images from the web, along with links to relevant sites. Users can then ask follow-up questions or browse related research on the sidebar.
Some searches are location-specific. According to a support note, OpenAI stated that SearchGPT “collects and shares location data” with third-party search engines to increase the accuracy of results, such as displaying nearby restaurants or weather updates. Users can also share more precise location information by toggling the settings menu.
Powered by OpenAI models (mainly GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o), SearchGPT is mentioned as a prototype and is initially launching for a “small group” of users and publishers, with a waitlist available. OpenAI plans to integrate some features of SearchGPT into ChatGPT in the future.
“Finding answers on the web often takes a lot of effort, requiring multiple attempts to find the right one,” OpenAI writes in a blog post. “We believe that by enhancing the ability of our models to interact with real-time web information, finding what you’re looking for can be faster and easier.”
Rumors have long suggested that OpenAI is interested in developing a search tool to rival Google. Earlier this year, The Information reported on a potential product or pilot in the works. But SearchGPT launched amid criticism of AI-powered search tools over various issues.
