ChatGPT maker OpenAI wants to compete with Google with its new AI-powered search engine 'SearchGPT'

Microsoft-backed AI giant OpenAI recently announced its entry into the search market with SearchGPT, an AI-powered search engine designed to provide real-time access to information across the internet. 

Unlike traditional search engines that return a list of links, OpenAI says the SearchGPT aims to organize and make sense of search results, offering summarized information and relevant sources.

The service, which is currently a prototype, is powered by the GPT-4 family of models and will initially be available to 10,000 test users.

How SearchGPT works?

SearchGPT begins with a large textbox asking users, "What are you looking for?" It then processes the query and provides organized summaries of the information.

For instance, it can summarize details about music festivals and plant varieties, presenting short descriptions followed by attribution links. Users can ask follow-up questions or explore additional relevant links in a sidebar.

A feature called “visual answers” is also included, although specific details about this feature are not yet available.

Partnering with various news organizations

To address concerns about AI-powered search engines impacting publishers' traffic, The ChatGPT maker has partnered with various news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Vox Media.

“AI search is going to become one of the key ways that people navigate the internet, and it's crucial, in these early days, that the technology is built in a way that values, respects, and protects journalism and publishers. We look forward to partnering with OpenAI in the process, and creating a new way for readers to discover The Atlantic,' said Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic.

The Sam Altman-led startup emphasizes that SearchGPT is developed in collaboration with these partners, allowing them to manage how their content appears in search results.

Most importantly, Publishers can opt out of having their content used to train OpenAI’s models while still appearing in search results. OpenAI aims to help users connect with publishers by prominently citing and linking to them in searches.

Prototype launch and future integration

SearchGPT is currently in a prototype phase and is expected to eventually integrate directly into ChatGPT. The initial release is limited to 10,000 test users, and there is a waitlist for others interested in joining the platform.

OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood said that the company is working with third-party partners and using direct content feeds to build its search results. The goal is to offer fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.

SearchGPT's launch comes amid increasing competition in the AI search space. Google's AI Overviews and the AI “answer” engine Perplexity are notable competitors.

Perplexity, which was founded by IIT-Madras graduate Aravind Srinivas, has faced criticism for using AI summaries that some publishers claim rip off their work.

In contrast, OpenAI says its approach focuses on collaboration with publishers to ensure transparency and proper attribution of sources. 

“Sam and the truly talented team at OpenAI innately understand that for AI-powered search to be effective, it must be founded on the highest-quality, most reliable information furnished by trusted sources. For the heavens to be in equilibrium, the relationship between technology and content must be symbiotic, and provenance must be protected," said Robert Thomson, Chief Executive of News Corp.