OpenAI Unveils SearchGPT AI-Powered Search Engine

• By John K. Waters
• 07/26/24

OpenAI has introduced SearchGPT, a new AI-powered search engine designed to access information from across the internet in real time. The much-anticipated prototype will provide more organized and meaningful search results by summarizing and contextualizing information rather than returning lists of links, the company said.

"Getting answers on the web can take a lot of effort, often requiring multiple attempts to get relevant results," the company said in its blog post. "We believe that by enhancing the conversational capabilities of our models with real-time information from the web, finding what you’re looking for can be faster and easier."

SearchGPT starts with a user-friendly interface, prompting users with "What are you looking for?" and delivers results by summarizing information, providing short descriptions, and offering attribution links. The engine also allows users to ask follow-up questions or explore related links via a sidebar. One example showcased by OpenAI involves summarizing music festival information, including descriptions and relevant links, while another example details tomato planting times and varieties.

The service is initially available to around 10,000 test users, with plans to integrate the search capabilities into ChatGPT later. OpenAI is working with third-party partners and direct content feeds to develop its search results, offering publishers the option to manage their visibility and opt out of using their content for model training while still appearing in searches.

SearchGPT's entry into the search market marks a significant step for OpenAI, positioning it as a potential competitor to Google, which has been integrating AI features into its search engine. The launch also challenges Perplexity, another AI-based search startup criticized for its content summarization practices. OpenAI has emphasized a different approach, collaborating with news partners like The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Vox Media to ensure accurate attribution and content management.

As a prototype, SearchGPT provides OpenAI with a buffer against potential inaccuracies or attribution errors. The company's rapid development has garnered significant user interest, although rising costs for AI training and inference, projected to reach $7 billion this year, pose a challenge. Currently free during its initial launch, SearchGPT's future monetization strategy remains unclear.

This development follows speculation about OpenAI's intentions to enter the search market, previously reported by Bloomberg and The Verge. OpenAI has been actively recruiting talent from Google and has established partnerships with major publishers like the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal to enhance its AI capabilities.

"We are committed to a thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators," the company said. "We hope to help users discover publisher sites and experiences, while bringing more choice to search. For decades, search has been a foundational way for publishers and creators to reach users. Now, we’re using AI to enhance this experience by highlighting high quality content in a conversational interface with multiple opportunities for users to engage."

Other companies, including major players such as Google and Microsoft, as well as such startups as Perplexity, have developed similar technologies. These services enhance traditional internet search engines by integrating chatbot features that generate text responses, providing answers to questions and summarizing information found online.

A waitlist for SearchGPT access is available here.