ChatGPT search has officially launched

OpenAI's much-anticipated SearchGPT, that was initially launched as a prototype in July, has become live to paid subscribers within the platform. The AI-backed search engine offers real-time data, including sports scores, stock quotes, weather updates, and more, as announced by the company.

This launch positions OpenAI, backed by nearly $14 billion in investment from Microsoft, in direct competition with Google, the undisputed leader in the search world. It's not just a threat to Google but also to Microsoft's Bing, which has struggled to gain market share despite its extensive resources.

Currently, SearchGPT is only available to ChatGPT's paid userbase but it will expand to free, enterprise, and education users in the coming weeks. 

In a pre-launch demo, OpenAI’s ChatGPT search lead, Adam Fry, showcased the feature by searching for Apple’s stock and relevant news. The search returned an interactive stock graph, upcoming earnings information, and news articles with clickable citations linking to original sources.

Unlike traditional search engines, SearchGPT offers a unique conversational search experience. Users can ask follow-up questions and receive real-time data updates, including breaking news. This feature makes the search process more engaging and interactive, setting it apart from other search engines.

OpenAI has partnered with a number of news organisations like Associated Press, Reuters, Axel Springer, Condé Nast, Hearst, Dotdash Meredith, the Financial Times, Le Monde, The Atlantic, Time, Vox Media and News Corp to ensure its search engine pulls from reputable and diverse sources, displayed with clickable citations for transparency. 

SearchGPT is still a work in progress but is poised to become a legitimate player in the search space. While Google earns the big bucks off advertising in the search space, OpenAI has declared that it currently has “no plans” for advertising in ChatGPT. Over time, the entry of a new player in the search ecosystem will impact SEO strategies for marketers, although it won’t dethrone Google’s dominance overnight. This sentiment was echoed by most APAC industry experts in a recent Sounding Board published by Campaign. 

OpenAI founder Sam Altman hinted at the platform’s potential during a Reddit 'AMA' (Ask Me Anything) session: “I find it to be a way faster/easier way to get the information I’m looking for… especially for queries that require more complex research.” Altman even envisions a future where search queries could dynamically create custom web pages in response, further blurring the lines between search and content creation.

Prior to this update, ChatGPT’s knowledge and database was limited to a cutoff between 2021 and 2023. OpenAI spokesperson Niko Felix said that even with live search active, the company will continue to refresh its training data to “ensure our users always have access to the latest advancements,” but it is “distinct” from the training of the company’s models. 

Despite these technological advancements, the AI search landscape is fraught with legal challenges. News Corp, Wired and Forbes have accused Perplexity of scraping content "on a massive scale", while The New York Times has recently filed lawsuits against both Perplexity and OpenAI, alleging copyright violations to train chatbots.