SearchGPT: Another OpenAI product that's challenging Google with AI search engine

OpenAI has introduced a new prototype called SearchGPT, which is currently undergoing testing. This innovative tool leverages AI search capabilities to provide users with "fast and timely answers" along with clear and relevant sources.

"We’re testing SearchGPT, a temporary prototype of new AI search features that give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources," cited on the company's website.

Presently, SearchGPT is accessible to a select group of 10,000 users. For those not included in this initial rollout, there is an option to join a waitlist for potential future access. OpenAI aims to merge the power of its AI models with real-time web information, enhancing the search experience by allowing users to engage in conversational follow-up questions that build on previous queries.

"A prototype of new search features, using the strength of our AI models to give you fast answers with clear and relevant sources," OpenAI emphasized.

The OpenAI's SearchGPT positions the company as a direct competitor to major search engines, including Google and Bing, which is a product of OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft. It also position the company as a direct competitor to other AI search engines like Perplexity. Here's the similarities and key differences between SearchGPT and Perplexity.

Tech companies like Google are racing to integrate generative AI into search engines, despite AI's history of inaccuracies and copyright issues. OpenAI claims its enhanced conversational AI with real-time web information offers a new, more efficient way to search, making it easier and faster to find relevant results.

Depending on how SearchGPT presents and cites its sources, it may face increased pushback from publishers regarding the use of their content. Although, the company has emphasized its commitment to collaborating with publishers, ensuring that the tool cites and links back to original sources, thereby addressing concerns about misinformation and content attribution.

Several media organizations, including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Intercept, have taken legal action against OpenAI, alleging copyright violations. They claim OpenAI trained its AI models on their content without permission or compensation, effectively profiting from protected material.

OpenAI denies these allegations, arguing that its use of copyrighted data falls under the "fair use" doctrine and creates new content.

Other companies' attempts at AI-generated search have also faced backlash. Google’s AI Overviews feature, which summarizes content from search results, has been criticized by publishers for diverting traffic and ad revenue away from their sites. Similarly, Perplexity, another AI-powered answer engine, has received legal threats from publishers for producing results nearly identical to their articles.

OpenAI aims to address these issues with SearchGPT by partnering with publishers and offering options for how their content appears in search results. The company seeks to promote trusted sources and has secured support from industry leaders like the CEO of the Atlantic and the chief executive of News Corp.

This development comes as Google faces a significant antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice, alleging that the company monopolized the internet search industry through exclusive deals with Apple and Samsung to make Google the default browser on their devices.

However, the announcement of this OpenAI's search product also comes at a time when several users have complained about Google’s ability to mix its traditional search system with AI.

From misinformation to utterly nonsensical answers, Google appears to be grappling with the challenges of this new search era dominated by embedded artificial intelligence. Conversely, OpenAI is addressing this issue by improving the conversational abilities of its models with real-time web information, assisting users in finding what they seek.

This initiative is part of OpenAI's strategy to addressing concerns that Google's approach discourages website visits. Committed to supporting publishers and creators, OpenAI enhances search with AI by providing high-quality content in a conversational format. The "SearchGPT" will prominently quote and link sources, ensuring clear attribution so users know where the information comes from.

The development of OpenAI's new product, SearchGPT, has been rumored for months, with reports from The Information in February and Bloomberg in May. OpenAI has been actively recruiting Google employees for its search team and has been working on a new website hinting at the launch. 

OpenAI has been integrating ChatGPT with real-time web access, starting with the release of GPT-3.5 and the "Browse with Bing" feature, which was more basic than the upcoming SearchGPT.

While OpenAI's advancements have gained millions of users, the costs are substantial. The Information reported that AI training and inference costs might reach $7 billion this year, driven by the free version of ChatGPT. SearchGPT will also be free initially, and with no ads currently, OpenAI will need to find a monetization strategy soon.