OpenAI, the company known for ChatGPT, has introduced a new search tool called “ChatGPT Search,” venturing into a market long dominated by Google. Announced on Thursday, this tool allows users to access the most current information from the internet.
The search results provided by ChatGPT Search resemble those one might find on Google. For instance, searching for “Chinese food” produces a list of nearby restaurant reviews, while inquiries about traveling to Costa Rica return travel blogs and hotel options. The tool is designed to offer real-time information on topics that can change rapidly, such as sports scores, stock prices, and weather updates.
ChatGPT Search not only provides answers but also summarizes the information and cites its sources. To support the launch, OpenAI secured agreements with media companies like The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and Vox to include their content in the search results.
In a public Q&A session on Reddit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised ChatGPT Search, suggesting it improves upon existing search methods. Altman noted that this tool offers a quicker and easier way to obtain information, especially for queries involving complex research. He expressed a vision for future search capabilities that could dynamically generate custom web pages in response to queries.
An OpenAI representative stated that ChatGPT Search leverages ChatGPT’s natural language processing capabilities and aims to streamline online searches by providing access to respected sources. Google did not respond to requests for comment.
The tool operates using backend support from other search engines, one of which is Microsoft’s Bing, as noted by OpenAI’s vice president of engineering Srinivas Narayanan during the Reddit Q&A. The specific names of other partner search engines remain undisclosed. The OpenAI spokesperson indicated that ChatGPT Search employs a blend of search technologies to generate its results.
ChatGPT is not alone in challenging Google in the AI-powered search space. The startup Perplexity, backed by Jeff Bezos, also markets itself as an AI search engine. Google, meanwhile, continues to utilize its Gemini large language model to summarize traditional search result content.
Despite slow progress in denting Google’s search engine market share—which stands at approximately 91%—there has been some traction. A survey by investment firm Evercore in September found an increase in preference for ChatGPT, with 8% of 1,300 respondents favoring it over Google, up from 1% in June.
However, Google’s dominance remains overwhelming. Even Microsoft’s initiative of integrating ChatGPT into Bing’s search engine earlier had minimal impact on market share. Now, OpenAI appears to have shifted strategy, integrating Bing into ChatGPT instead.
Despite these small gains, Google continues to lead by a significant margin. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, does not disclose exact search query volumes, but they reach billions monthly, far surpassing ChatGPT and Perplexity’s user bases. ChatGPT reported 200 million weekly users in August, equating to approximately 800 million monthly. Perplexity had around 10 million active users as of February, according to the New York Times.
The consensus in Silicon Valley is that AI will inevitably reshape search engines, though the precise nature and timeline of this change remain uncertain. OpenAI’s chief product officer, Kevin Weil, acknowledged in a Reddit discussion that it is still early days for differentiating AI-powered search from traditional methods and welcomed user feedback on the new tool.
