An OpenAI search product that competes with Google is coming very soon, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This move significantly raises the stakes in its ongoing competition with Alphabet’s Google and emerging AI search competitors like Perplexity, reports Reuters.
While the announcement date is subject to change, Bloomberg and The Information have reported that OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, is developing this search feature as an extension of its widely used ChatGPT platform.
The search functionality is expected to allow ChatGPT to pull in real-time information from the web, complete with citations for enhanced accuracy.
Recently, OpenAI confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that it would be hosting a live event on Monday to showcase new updates to ChatGPT and GPT-4. However, CEO Sam Altman clarified that this will not be GPT-5 or a traditional search engine but rather a new set of features designed to enhance user experience.
Industry experts believe this announcement is strategically timed, just ahead of Google’s annual I/O conference, where the tech giant is expected to unveil new AI-powered search enhancements.
OpenAI’s search tool will reportedly provide users with direct, real-time web-sourced answers, addressing previous concerns about ChatGPT’s ability to retrieve up-to-date and accurate online information.
AI-Driven Search: A Game Changer
If OpenAI successfully integrates search capabilities into ChatGPT, it could mark a significant evolution in how users interact with AI for information retrieval.
Historically, ChatGPT has been a powerful tool for generating responses based on existing knowledge, but its inability to access real-time web data has been a limitation. The planned search feature aims to bridge that gap by integrating direct search functionalities with AI-generated insights.
This development comes amid growing interest in AI-native search experiences. Competitor Perplexity, founded by a former OpenAI researcher, has already gained traction by offering an AI-powered search interface that includes citations, images, and contextual information in its responses.
With over 10 million monthly active users, Perplexity has positioned itself as an alternative to traditional search engines.
Meanwhile, Google has also been ramping up its generative AI search features, aiming to maintain its dominance in the search industry.
As AI-driven tools continue to evolve, OpenAI’s entry into the search space could redefine how people access and interact with information online.
As the competition between AI search platforms intensifies, the question remains: Will OpenAI’s new search capabilities be the breakthrough that challenges Google’s long-standing search dominance?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—AI-powered search is set to reshape the future of information discovery.
