OpenAI’s ChatGPT Levels up with Web Search Capability

• OpenAI
• ChatGPT
• Search Engine

OpenAI, a notable player in artificial intelligence, announced on Wednesday that its popular chatbot, ChatGPT, now wields the capability to search the web using Microsoft’s Bing search engine. This enhancement brings ChatGPT on par with chatbots from tech giants like Microsoft and Google, especially Google's Bard. The update is part of OpenAI's strategy to secure a strong foothold in the rapidly expanding AI industry.

Microsoft's and Google's chatbots have been able to search the web and provide source material links for some time now. This feature enhances the trustworthiness of their information and extends their knowledge range. Before the update, ChatGPT could only utilize the information it had been trained on, which was restricted to data scraped from the internet before September 2021. "We are so back," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted following the announcement.

A Race for Dominance in the AI Industry

Major tech companies, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, have been in a heated race to roll out updates and introduce new features to their generative AI products. The pressure is palpable as these tools continue to make errors, revealing the urgency these companies have in getting users to generate new data and enhance their performance. OpenAI’s latest announcement coincided with Meta’s unveiling of a new chatbot, which can search the web using Bing.

ChatGPT’s Evolution

Previously, paying users of ChatGPT could make the bot search the web by connecting browser plug-ins developed by other companies. However, Wednesday’s update has integrated this feature directly into the core ChatGPT product, potentially extending its use to a more extensive user base. A select group of users also had access to the web search tool if they were part of a particular test program run by OpenAI.

Microsoft was the first company to launch a chatbot connected to the web, using its Bing AI tool in February. This was made possible thanks to a multibillion-dollar deal between Microsoft and OpenAI. Staying caught up, Google introduced its Bard chatbot in March and placed a chatbot feature at the top of search results for some users.

Earlier this week, OpenAI has been swiftly developing its consumer-facing tools, enhancing ChatGPT's ability to interpret images and respond with a spoken voice rather than just text. This latest innovation, combined with the new web search capability, signifies a significant step forward for ChatGPT and OpenAI's competitive stance in the AI industry.