ChatGPT has significantly improved its web search functionality, enabling users to access fast, relevant answers directly within their chat interface, complemented by links to web sources. This new Search feature merges the advantages of a conversational AI interface with the practicality of timely updates on various topics, such as news, sports scores, and financial data, which previously required external search engines.
Users can now use ChatGPT to decide when to search the web, or they can initiate a search themselves by clicking the web search icon.
The enhanced search feature is available on chatgpt.com and through ChatGPT’s desktop and mobile applications. It is currently only accessible to ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers, as well as SearchGPT waitlist participants, with plans to extend the service to Enterprise and Education users within a few weeks. Free users will gain access progressively over the upcoming months.
This update is designed to streamline finding high-quality information, which often demands multiple online searches. By allowing users to ask questions in natural, conversational language, ChatGPT can search the web for contextually relevant information and refine its responses based on follow-up inquiries. Moreover, users can directly explore the source material through links embedded in ChatGPT’s replies, with a “Sources” button that opens a sidebar for further reading.
The integration of search into ChatGPT not only benefits users by offering a more interactive way to obtain information but also supports content creators. It helps connect users to original web content and provides publishers with increased visibility. As Mathias Sanchez, SVP Global Strategic Partnerships at Axel Springer SE, noted, “As AI reshapes the media landscape, Axel Springer’s partnership with OpenAI opens up tremendous opportunities for innovative advancements. Together, we’re driving new business models that ensure journalism remains both trustworthy and profitable.”
Why is this important?
OpenAI has collaborated with numerous major publishers, including Associated Press, Axel Springer, Condé Nast, and Reuters, among others, to integrate feedback and ensure the search model supports content creators. Any publisher can opt to appear in ChatGPT search, which enhances engagement and accessibility to high-quality information.
The search capability is built on a refined version of GPT-4o, enhanced through synthetic data and the distillation of outputs from OpenAI’s o1-preview model. It uses a mix of third-party search engines and content directly from partners to deliver accurate results. Inspired by the positive feedback from the SearchGPT prototype, OpenAI aims to continue refining its search, particularly for areas like shopping and travel, and to harness the full reasoning power of the o1 series for deeper research.
Future plans include expanding this Search feature to Advanced Voice, canvas interfaces, and logged-out users, along with a Chrome extension that allows direct searches via the browser’s URL bar.