OpenAI Expands AI Web Search to All ChatGPT Users
OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT Search to free and paid users, adding browser integration and mobile upgrades. The feature aims to compete with traditional search engines despite ongoing concerns from publishers.
OpenAI expands its AI-powered web search tool, ChatGPT Search, to all users, removing the previous restriction that limited the feature to premium subscribers. By default, the system automatically determines when to route queries through web search, though users also have the option to manually activate it via a new dedicated icon in the interface. This expansion makes real-time information, such as sports scores, news, and stock quotes, accessible to a much broader audience.
The update brings significant speed improvements and allows users to set ChatGPT Search as the default search engine in any web browser. Mobile users receive an upgraded experience that displays well-organized business information, including addresses integrated with Apple Maps on iOS and direct phone numbers. Furthermore, OpenAI integrates ChatGPT Search into its Advanced Voice Mode, enabling users to request and receive up-to-date web information through natural, real-time conversations on both desktop and mobile devices.
Despite these advancements, the rollout faces pushback from publishers who worry that AI-generated summaries threaten to cannibalize their website traffic. Studies indicate that similar AI search features significantly reduce clicks to original source articles. OpenAI states it is addressing these concerns by incorporating partner feedback to improve how the tool selects relevant articles, determines summary length, and displays quotations from the original content.