OpenAI has now made the ChatGPT-powered internet search feature available to all free users, a major development that strengthens competition with Google. Earlier, only paid subscribers of the ChatGPT Plus and Team plans could access this search function. Now, it’s accessible to everyone on both mobile and desktop platforms, ensuring a broader reach. OpenAI aims to provide fast and accurate search results sourced in real-time from the web. Users will get direct links to relevant sources, making search results more useful and reliable.
Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, shared this update in a video on YouTube, saying that the search functionality is now available on all platforms where ChatGPT is used worldwide. This means users can access real-time information seamlessly across their preferred devices. The new search interface resembles the search results seen on Google and Perplexity but stands out by eliminating the usual advertising clutter. Adam Fry, the product lead for ChatGPT Search, pointed out OpenAI’s strategy to integrate search directly into the ChatGPT experience rather than launching it as a separate product. This ensures a smoother and more unified user experience without disrupting existing workflows.
This rollout is part of OpenAI’s 12-day product launch event, which introduced other tools like the Sora video generator and a new subscription tier called ChatGPT Pro. The integration also highlights OpenAI’s ongoing collaboration with Microsoft, which is working to strengthen Bing’s search presence in the market. However, it raises concerns for publishers as AI-driven search tools could potentially reduce traffic to original content sources. OpenAI’s integration of search within ChatGPT offers a strong alternative to conventional search engines, promising convenience, efficiency and real-time information updates to millions of users worldwide.
