OpenAI to up the game with search engine capabilities

OpenAI is reportedly upgrading ChatGPT with a feature that enables the AI portal to conduct web searches and cite sources – a move that stands threaten Google's search engine supremacy in the field and as well as that of AI startups like Perplexity.  

Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the upcoming feature would empower ChatGPT users to pose questions and receive answers sourced from various online platforms, reported RW.

These responses could include citations from sources like Wikipedia and blog posts, and potentially even incorporate visual aids like diagrams when relevant.

For instance, a query about changing a doorknob might yield a detailed guide complete with a step-by-step illustration of the process.

Perplexity AI is an AI-chatbot-powered research and conversational search engine that answers queries using natural language predictive text, launched in 2022.

As OpenAI faces heightened competition in the AI realm, particularly in the realm of search functionality, the decision to enhance ChatGPT's capabilities marks a strategic move.

Rivals such as Perplexity, recently valued at $1 billion, and Google are bolstering their search technologies with AI to elevate precision and user engagement.

The prospect of OpenAI introducing a search feature has ignited widespread speculation online, especially following the discovery of a URL, search.chatgpt.com. Though initially leading to a "not found" message, the URL briefly redirected to ChatGPT's main site over a weekend, intensifying rumours about the imminent launch of this anticipated feature.

At present, the web search feature is exclusive to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, offering capabilities like providing current weather updates.

Yet, there have been some drawbacks, such as outdated responses, underscoring the necessity for enhancements in how ChatGPT fetches and confirms real-time information.

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