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On October 31, 2024, OpenAI introduced SearchGPT, a new AI-powered search engine integrated directly into ChatGPT, designed to challenge major players like Google. This launch comes after the company faced significant delays in developing new AI models, including GPT-5 and SORA, due to computational challenges.
During a Reddit AMA on the same day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed the challenges slowing the rollout of next-generation models. He highlighted the difficulties of managing the increased complexity of these models, leading to delays in the development of major updates like DALL-E’s next version and the Sora video generation tool. Altman acknowledged that the team was prioritizing model safety and infrastructure improvements over pushing out new releases.
To compensate for delays in AI model advancements, OpenAI launched SearchGPT, which combines ChatGPT’s conversational capabilities with the ability to access and relay real-time web data. This new tool enables users to search the web for information such as weather forecasts or news updates—all within the ChatGPT interface.
SearchGPT stands out by offering an ad-free, user-friendly search experience that is both interactive and rich in detail. For instance, users searching for stock information get real-time graphs and links to relevant news, while location-based queries, such as finding local restaurants, return interactive maps with detailed recommendations.
SearchGPT is powered by Microsoft Bing and is designed to improve factual accuracy by pulling in the latest available data. OpenAI has formed partnerships with prominent news outlets such as Le Monde, Axel Springer, and the Financial Times to ensure the reliability of information.
While the tool boosts real-time data accuracy, it also faces legal challenges, including lawsuits from companies like News Corp and The New York Times over copyright concerns. OpenAI is actively seeking feedback from publishers to refine its content management practices and ensure the ethical use of web-sourced data.
While OpenAI plans to offer it without ads, SearchGPT’s advanced functionality, powered by AI and real-time data, is costly to maintain. Therefore, there may be limits for free users to balance costs. As OpenAI ventures into the competitive search engine market, it will need to manage its growing computational requirements effectively to ensure the sustainability of this new feature.
In an era where AI-driven web search is becoming increasingly competitive, SearchGPT could provide a dynamic alternative to traditional search engines.
