OpenAI announced on Thursday that it is testing a prototype of a new search-based AI tool called SearchGPT, marking a significant step in the evolution of the search industry toward AI-driven interfaces.
The importance of this development lies in the tech industry's belief that traditional search engines may soon be replaced by conversational interfaces like ChatGPT for online information gathering. Current AI chatbots often need help providing accurate, up-to-date information and crediting sources, a challenge SearchGPT aims to address.
Both Google and Microsoft, the remaining major players in the traditional search market, are already incorporating generative AI into their search engines, with varying levels of success. Microsoft recently began testing a new version of Bing's "generative search experience," which aims to produce tailored responses to user queries. In contrast, OpenAI's SearchGPT promises to cite and link to sources while allowing users to refine their questions through ongoing dialogue.
"SearchGPT is designed to give you an answer," OpenAI stated in its announcement. "It will quickly and directly respond to your questions with up-to-date information from the web while providing clear links to relevant sources. You'll be able to ask follow-up questions, just like in a conversation with a person, with the shared context building with each query."
OpenAI has a waitlist for users to request access to SearchGPT, which will operate separately from other OpenAI services like ChatGPT. OpenAI describes SearchGPT as a "temporary prototype" and plans to integrate its best features into ChatGPT in the future.
Additionally, OpenAI is partnering with publishers to ensure that SearchGPT prominently cites and links to their content. Content providers can feature their material through SearchGPT without having to provide it to train the company's AI models.
This approach underscores a broader industry shift. Companies are betting that users prefer straightforward answers to their questions rather than sifting through search results. While this might work well for simple queries, AI search summaries have struggled with complex topics, controversies, and ambiguities.
Much of the web's information is currently behind paywalls or cluttered with ads. Chatbot search answers, free from distractions, offer a cleaner user experience. However, this may change as AI companies monetize these services to offset their high operational costs.
The rollout of AI-driven search tools has had its challenges. Google's introduction of AI search summaries experienced a rocky start, and industry observers will closely watch to see if OpenAI's SearchGPT offers more reliable and accurate answers.