SearchGPT

What is OpenAI SearchGPT?

SearchGPT was OpenAI's prototype AI-powered search engine, launched on July 25, 2024, to a small group of test users and select publishers. It used the GPT-4 model family to deliver real-time, conversational search results with links to sources. OpenAI has since integrated SearchGPT's capabilities into ChatGPT, and the standalone prototype is no longer offered separately.

Key Features

• Conversational Interface — Users could ask follow-up questions and receive answers with clear links to relevant sources, making online searches faster and more efficient.
• Real-time Information — SearchGPT delivered real-time information from the web, reducing the need for multiple search attempts.
• Publisher Collaboration — OpenAI partnered with news organizations and publishers so that SearchGPT prominently cited and linked to original content.
• User and Publisher Feedback — OpenAI gathered feedback from early users and publishers to refine the service ahead of integrating it into ChatGPT.

From Prototype to ChatGPT Search

SearchGPT began as a limited test with roughly 10,000 users and select publishers. OpenAI used that trial period to refine the experience, then rolled the underlying search capability into ChatGPT rather than continuing to operate SearchGPT as a separate product. Search in ChatGPT today reflects that work: conversational follow-up questions, real-time web results, and clear source citations.

Publisher Collaboration

During the prototype phase, OpenAI partnered with various news organizations and publishers to ensure that SearchGPT prominently cited and linked to original content. Publishers retained control over how their content appeared in search results and could opt out of having their content used for model training while still being included in search results.

Competitive Landscape

SearchGPT's integration into ChatGPT positioned OpenAI as a more direct competitor to established search engines like Google and Bing. The move reflects a broader trend among AI companies to build conversational, generative search directly into their assistants.

How can users access SearchGPT's features today?

The standalone SearchGPT prototype and its waitlist are no longer active. Its search functionality is available to ChatGPT users through ChatGPT's built-in search feature, which returns real-time web results with cited sources.