OpenAI has introduced a new search feature within ChatGPT on Thursday, enhancing its ability to compete with Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and other search engines. This feature provides real-time updates on sports scores, stock prices, news, and weather, thanks to partnerships with various data providers. The beta testing phase, named SearchGPT, began in July.
The launch could threaten Google’s dominance in the search market. Since ChatGPT’s debut in November 2022, investors have expressed concerns about OpenAI taking market share from Google. Following the announcement, Alphabet’s shares dipped about 1%.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the search feature as his favourite addition, allowing users to ask questions naturally and receive intuitive responses. The search relies on OpenAI's advanced GPT-4o model and various third-party services, including Bing.
With plans to continually improve the feature, OpenAI aims to enhance users' search experiences in areas like shopping and travel.
