OpenAI introduces its AI search engine, SearchGPT, to rival Google Search and Perplexity

OpenAI has introduced SearchGPT, the prototype of its AI-driven search engine that aims to compete with traditional engines like Google Search by organizing and interpreting results, offering summaries and detailed explanations, pretty similar to how Perplexity or Arc Search works.

SearchGPT aims to deliver quick, direct responses to user queries with the latest information from the web, providing clear links to relevant sources. Users can ask follow-up questions in a conversational manner, maintaining shared context with each query, or explore additional relevant links through a sidebar. The service also supports internet-based publishers by offering clear attribution and links to their content, even if they block their content from being used to train AI models like ChatGPT.

Powered by GPT-4 models, SearchGPT includes a feature called "visual answers," although details on this remain sparse. OpenAI is working with third-party partners and using direct content feeds for search results. The company plans to eventually integrate SearchGPT's features into ChatGPT. Users interested in trying out SearchGPT can sign up for the waitlist here.

This new platform positions OpenAI as a direct alternative to traditional search engines, particularly Google, which has struggled to meet user expectations with its recent AI explorations on its search engine as well.