OpenAI is reportedly developing an exciting new feature for its AI tool, ChatGPT, that will allow it to search the web and cite sources in its responses. This move is seen as a strategic step to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities and position it as a more competitive player in the search engine market, where it will go head-to-head with established giants like Google and the AI search startup Perplexity.
The new feature will empower users to pose questions to ChatGPT and receive responses that incorporate information gathered from the web, complete with citations to the original sources. These sources can range from Wikipedia entries to blog posts, providing users with a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand. Additionally, the product may incorporate images alongside its written responses to enhance understanding, particularly for topics where visual aids would be beneficial.
This development is not entirely unexpected, as rumors of OpenAI’s search product have been circulating since February, when The Information reported on its existence. Speculations about ChatGPT’s search capabilities have also been a popular topic on social media, with some users pointing to the existence of the web page search.chatgpt.com as an indication of the feature’s impending release. However, visitors to that URL are currently met with a “not found” message, suggesting that the feature is still under development.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has already garnered widespread recognition for its impressive language-processing abilities, and the addition of web search and source citation capabilities will further enhance its usefulness and appeal to a broader audience. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to witness how ChatGPT and other AI tools will shape the future of search and information retrieval.
