Insider Brief

• ChatGPT’s new search function allows users to retrieve up-to-date information on topics like weather, stock quotes, and news, blending conversational AI with direct web-based results for more efficient answers.
• OpenAI has partnered with major news outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, enabling ChatGPT to pull from reliable sources. This partnership also helps publishers reach new audiences through AI-driven search results.
• Currently available to Plus and Team users, the search function will eventually roll out to Free users. OpenAI plans to expand features in shopping, travel, and integrate it into their Advanced Voice and Canvas options for a richer user experience.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has launched a search function that allows users to retrieve timely, relevant information from the web directly within their ChatGPT interface, according to a company blog post. This new feature blends the conversational format of ChatGPT with the efficiency of online search, aiming to provide faster and more comprehensive answers to queries that would typically require multiple searches on a search engine.

With this update, ChatGPT users, especially those subscribed to Plus and Team plans, can opt to activate web search by selecting the globe icon within the chat interface or by letting ChatGPT determine when a web search is required based on the question. For example, asking for current weather conditions, stock prices, or recent news will trigger a search, returning data sourced from various trusted providers. OpenAI’s search function not only retrieves the latest sports scores, stock updates and news articles but also presents a user-friendly design that includes categorized information for easy access to common topics like weather, maps, and restaurant recommendations, according to the post.

The feature, which rolled out on October 31, 2024, is part of OpenAI’s initiative to make real-time information accessible across multiple platforms. Users of ChatGPT’s desktop and mobile apps can now interact with content directly within the app, as well as follow linked sources for further reading. Enterprise, education-focused users, and those on the SearchGPT waitlist will receive access shortly, with free users expected to gain access over the following months.

Collaboration With Publishers and News Outlets

OpenAI’s approach to the search function involves partnerships with major media outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, and other prominent publishers, who contribute directly to the data pool from which ChatGPT retrieves answers. According to OpenAI, this ensures that the information drawn from these sources aligns with reliable and high-quality journalism standards. Publishers benefit by gaining exposure to ChatGPT’s extensive user base, which includes a new generation of readers increasingly relying on AI for information discovery. This cooperative approach enables both OpenAI and content creators to engage audiences while maintaining journalistic integrity.

How the Search Function Works

The search function is powered by a fine-tuned version of OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, developed using advanced synthetic data generation techniques. This includes knowledge from previous versions of GPT-4, enhanced by OpenAI’s own o1-preview model, which has undergone additional training to refine its search capabilities. OpenAI’s technical team has integrated third-party search services and partnered content, creating a streamlined system that delivers quick answers with relevant citations.

In addition to the new search capabilities, ChatGPT also introduced an updated source citation feature. Users can click on the “Sources” button to view detailed references used for the answer. These links open a sidebar that provides more information, directing users to the original websites or articles, fostering transparency and credibility in the answers ChatGPT generates.

Future Directions for ChatGPT Search

While this feature is already available to many users, OpenAI has plans to expand it further. They are exploring additional functionalities to enhance shopping and travel recommendations, as well as incorporating this search model into their Advanced Voice and Canvas options, which allow users to interact with AI in various creative ways. Additionally, OpenAI intends to bring the search experience to all Free-tier users eventually, widening access to this AI-driven tool.

According to OpenAI, this tool is part of a broader vision for AI-assisted search. In their ongoing collaboration with media and information partners, OpenAI aims to ensure the ChatGPT search experience evolves to keep pace with the changing ways people seek and interact with information. By pairing up-to-date search capabilities with conversational AI, OpenAI provides a model that is set to redefine how users access real-time data.