OpenAI announced on Thursday an ambitious upgrade to its ChatGPT, introducing search engine capabilities that allow the chatbot to deliver real-time answers with links to relevant sources, directly challenging Google’s long-standing dominance in web search.
This enhancement enables ChatGPT to offer “fast, timely answers” without the need to rely on traditional search engines, OpenAI said, marking a significant step toward a more integrated web information tool. The upgraded homepage now features tabs directing users to real-time data on a variety of topics, including weather, stock prices, sports scores, and breaking news. Sources include content partners such as France’s Le Monde, Germany’s Axel Springer, and the UK’s Financial Times.
The updated interface closely resembles Google’s search results, presenting answers without ads for a cleaner experience. It also mirrors Perplexity, a conversational AI-powered search engine that references sources in answers. Both OpenAI and Perplexity are facing copyright challenges from the New York Times for using content without permission.
OpenAI’s search feature is currently available to ChatGPT’s paid subscribers, with plans to expand access to free-tier users. Users can enable search by default or activate it manually via a web search icon. OpenAI has invited websites and publishers to opt-in for inclusion in search results and welcomes feedback from content creators to enhance the system.
Before this update, AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude were limited by fixed data cutoffs, making them less capable of providing current information. While Microsoft and Google already integrate AI with search, ChatGPT’s new search feature lacks ads, which may appeal to users seeking cleaner results.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed his enthusiasm for the feature on X (formerly Twitter), calling it his “favorite feature” since ChatGPT’s 2022 launch, describing it as “a way faster/easier way to get the information I’m looking for.”
The integration underscores OpenAI’s growing ambitions. With recent funding that valued the company at $157 billion and partnerships with major investors like Microsoft, SoftBank, and Nvidia, OpenAI’s move into search expands its influence but also increases its already significant computing demands.
