OpenAI has launched its most direct challenge to Google yet, integrating web search capabilities into ChatGPT. The feature, which rolls out today for ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers, transforms the popular chatbot into a full-fledged search engine that can pull current information about everything from news and sports scores to weather and stock quotes.
With ChatGPT Search, OpenAI is rebuilding the search experience from first principles. Instead of showing you a list of links, ChatGPT processes search results and presents them as part of your conversation. You can ask follow-up questions to dig deeper, and the system considers your entire chat history to refine its responses. Each answer includes source links, letting you verify information and explore topics further.
For example, a query about weekend events in your area might provide a summarized response directly sourced from local news sites. If you follow up with a question about nearby restaurants, ChatGPT Search will adapt to the context and deliver a refined list of suggestions, even incorporating maps and additional visuals when needed. This adaptability makes the experience richer and more intuitive compared to traditional keyword-based searches.
The launch puts OpenAI in direct competition with Google Search and Microsoft Bing, though with a notable twist - OpenAI isn't currently planning to show ads in search results. This decision stands in stark contrast to traditional search engines, where advertising drives billions in revenue.
OpenAI has also taken steps to address concerns about AI systems potentially harming publishers. The company has partnered with major news organizations including The Associated Press, Axel Springer, and Vox Media to ensure proper attribution and compensation for content. Publishers can choose whether their content appears in ChatGPT's search results.
"ChatGPT search promises to better highlight and attribute information from trustworthy news sources," says Pam Wasserstein, President of Vox Media. "This benefits audiences while expanding the reach of publishers who produce premium journalism."
You can access the new feature through ChatGPT's website, or mobile and desktop apps. The rollout will happen in phases. While Plus and Team subscribers get immediate access, enterprise and education users will get it in the coming weeks. Free users will gain access over the next few months.
OpenAI says it plans to further enhance the search experience, particularly for shopping and travel-related queries. The company is also working to integrate this search capability with its Advanced Voice feature, potentially changing how you interact with web information through voice commands.
The question now is whether this new approach to search - combining conversational AI with real-time web information - will be compelling enough to change how you find information online. Google has dominated search for decades, but ChatGPT's more natural, conversation-based approach could appeal to those frustrated with traditional search engines.