OpenAI has officially entered the search engine arena with SearchGPT, its AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize how we find information online. The search engine aims to provide users with “fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources,” potentially challenging not only established giants like Google and Bing, but also startups like Perplexity.
“We think there is room to make search much better than it is today,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a post on X.
A new way to search
Unlike traditional search engines that deliver a list of links, SearchGPT wants to understand and organize search results. Users type in their queries, and SearchGPT delivers information and visuals gleaned from the web, complete with links to the source material. This fosters a more conversational search experience, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and explore related searches presented in a sidebar. Location-based awareness also plays a role, with SearchGPT incorporating general location information and offering the option to share more specific details for refined results.
Early stages
SearchGPT is just a “prototype” for now. The tool is powered by the GPT-4 family of models and will only be accessible to 10,000 test users at launch, according to The Verge. OpenAI plans to eventually integrate SearchGPT’s functionalities into ChatGPT. The search engine is partnering with publishers and creators to help users discover publisher sites and experiences, while bringing more choice to search.
“AI search is going to become one of the key ways that people navigate the internet, and it’s crucial, in these early days, that the technology is built in a way that values, respects, and protects journalism and publishers. We look forward to partnering with OpenAI in the process, and creating a new way for readers to discover The Atlantic,” says Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic.
The future of search engine
This prototype represents a potential threat to Google’s search dominance, particularly following Google’s own AI Overview experiment that received negative feedback for inaccurate summaries. As the competition in the AI search market heats up, it will be fascinating to see how SearchGPT evolves and whether it can deliver on its promise of a more responsible and user-friendly search experience.
