At the end of last year, OpenAI launched its own search engine. Integrated into ChatGPT, the engine is based on SearchGPT, a prototype announced a few months earlier. As the startup explains, the chatbot can do online searches for you and provide "quick and timely answers with links to relevant web sources".
OpenAI says it has partnered with "information and data providers" to provide real-time answers on certain key topics, such as the weather or the stock market. Search mode can be activated by clicking on the small world logo next to the +, which allows you to upload files to ChatGPT. For the past few months, we've been testing ChatGPT's search engine extensively, and we found it particularly convincing.
ChatGPT Search Improvements
A few months later, OpenAI has optimized the online search powered by ChatGPT. In the changelog for the latest ChatGPT updates, OpenAI explains that it has "improved ChatGPT's search functionality for all users, to provide even more comprehensive and up-to-date answers." The startup claims that the answers provided by the search module are also more relevant and coherent.
Furthermore, ChatGPT is even better able to "follow instructions, especially in longer conversations" and to "automatically perform multiple searches for complex or difficult questions". These improvements contribute to the production of higher-quality answers when the search module is activated, and the conversation drags on. It is also easier to search the web for information based on an image uploaded by the user to ChatGPT.
As a result of these improvements, Internet users may "notice longer answers". Unfortunately, the changes made by OpenAI can also lead to the emergence of "chain of thought" reasoning. In short, the AI will detail precisely how it thinks, even for the simplest queries. This process normally only appears for OpenAI reasoning models, like o1. It is not supposed to be activated in the search function. OpenAI promises that a fix "will be deployed to users soon.".
ChatGPT takes on Google
With these optimizations, OpenAI is likely seeking to establish itself as a serious competitor to Google, the undisputed leader in internet search. Aware that AI threatens to disrupt the online search industry, Google has invested heavily in the field of generative AI. The Mountain View giant has even gradually integrated artificial intelligence into its search engine.
It now displays AI-generated summaries at the top of results to help users find an answer more easily. In the future, Google will go even further with AI Mode, a search mode that brings its engine closer to ChatGPT Search. Powered by Gemini, it allows you to search by conversing with AI. In short, the robot does the searching for you... just like ChatGPT and other AIs, like Perplexity, already do.
Source: OpenAI
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