ChatGPT just leveled up—it’s now a fully functional AI-powered web search engine!
OpenAI is rolling out this real-time search feature for paid subscribers today, with broader access planned soon for free, enterprise, and education accounts.
Instead of launching separately, the web search is embedded directly into ChatGPT’s interface.
It smartly decides when to pull up web results but lets users manually trigger searches as well.
This update is a game-changer, finally placing ChatGPT on par with rivals like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini, which already offer real-time online access.
During a pre-launch demo, Adam Fry, OpenAI’s ChatGPT search lead, wowed us with the feature.
He searched for Apple stock, and in seconds, ChatGPT pulled up an interactive graph, earnings data, and news articles with clickable citations.
Even more impressive? It mapped out local Italian restaurants in San Francisco, complete with interactive pins and customizable results.
Got a craving for a casual neighborhood spot? ChatGPT has you covered.
The search feature works across all platforms: iOS, Android, and even the desktop apps. It’s built using cutting-edge search tech, including Microsoft’s Bing.
According to a blog post, the underlying model is a refined version of GPT-4o. This feature has been in the works since a prototype called SearchGPT launched for testers back in July.
Previously, ChatGPT’s knowledge ended in 2021 or 2023, depending on the model. But now, with live search active, users can expect fresher, real-time insights.
OpenAI still plans to update its training data regularly to ensure you always get the most up-to-date information.
This launch arrives as the competition in AI search intensifies. Companies like Meta are also exploring their own search solutions, while Google continues to expand its AI features worldwide.
And though OpenAI insists this release wasn’t timed with Google’s latest earnings reveal, it’s hard not to notice the overlap.