Weekly Prompt: OpenAI unveils SearchGPT and other news

OpenAI unveils SearchGPT: a new AI-powered search engine

This week, OpenAI introduced SearchGPT, a new AI-powered search engine prototype aimed at providing fast and accurate results, marking its entry into a market traditionally dominated by Google. SearchGPT is currently in a trial phase and will be tested by a small group of users and publishers, with plans to incorporate feedback into future updates and integrate some features into ChatGPT.

According to OpenAI’s blog post, SearchGPT enhances the search experience by delivering timely answers sourced from the web, streamlining a process that often requires multiple attempts to find relevant information. The user interface of SearchGPT is similar to traditional search engines, featuring a central search bar. However, it distinguishes itself by providing summarised answers and a limited list of related links, rather than multiple pages of results. The results show clear in-line named attributions and links to sources. Users can ask follow-up questions and explore additional related searches through a sidebar.

SearchGPT also incorporates location-based features, showing results like nearby restaurants or weather forecasts. Users can opt to share precise location information to improve the accuracy of these results.

In developing SearchGPT, OpenAI has collaborated with various publishers to ensure proper citation and attribution of sources. This approach appears to be to address concerns over plagiarism and content misuse that have troubled other AI-powered search engines. OpenAI emphasises that publishers have control over how their content is presented and can opt out of having their content used for training AI models while still appearing in search results.

The launch of SearchGPT comes at a time of increasing competition in the AI-powered search market. Google has recently integrated AI capabilities into its search platform, and other start-ups like Perplexity are also vying for a share of the market.

Sources: Engadget, TechCrunch, The Verge

Additional prompts

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