OpenAI Launches SearchGPT, Challenging Google's Search Dominance

OpenAI Launches SearchGPT, Challenging Google's Search DominanceThe emergence of SearchGPT marks another challenge from OpenAI towards Google's search dominance. Back in 2022, the sudden rise of ChatGPT caught Google off guard

OpenAI Launches SearchGPT, Challenging Google's Search Dominance

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence startup, has officially launched a test version of its much-anticipated search engine, SearchGPT. This new search engine aims to provide users with a more accurate and comprehensive search experience by integrating information from numerous reliable sources. SearchGPT draws information from prominent media partners such as News Corp (parent company of The Wall Street Journal) and The Atlantic, and can refine and summarize information from various websites, including news websites and blogs. Users can not only ask questions as they would using ChatGPT, but they can also trace the source of information through bracket-marked citations at the bottom of the search results, ensuring the reliability of the answers. Additionally, SearchGPT has introduced a sidebar feature to facilitate users in accessing more related results and sources.

The emergence of SearchGPT marks another challenge from OpenAI towards Google's search dominance. Back in 2022, the sudden rise of ChatGPT caught Google off guard. Now, OpenAI is attempting to challenge Google's search supremacy more directly through SearchGPT. In response to this challenge, Google has also accelerated the development of its own AI search features and has integrated information from multiple online sources. On Thursday, shares of Google's parent company Alphabet fell nearly 3%.

Beyond OpenAI and Google, AI companies such as Perplexity, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, are actively entering the search market. Notably, Perplexity was also founded by former OpenAI employees.

OpenAI has partnered with numerous publishers to develop SearchGPT and showcased the initial model of the feature to them. Publishers have expressed concerns about how AI might change newsrooms and news gathering practices, especially given the widespread decline in online traffic for many publishers. They worry that AI search tools from companies like OpenAI or Google might directly provide complete answers, reducing the need for users to click on article links, thereby weakening publishers' online traffic and advertising revenue.

The potential impact of SearchGPT on publisher traffic remains unclear. An OpenAI spokesperson stated, "We hope to learn more about user behavior through testing." It's worth noting that publishers are cautious about collaborations with technology companies whose product changes can sometimes cause drastic fluctuations in online traffic. Last month, Perplexity's adaptation of a Forbes article fueled further anxieties among publishers as the product showcased the content until the bottom of the page before mentioning the news source. In response, Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas explained that this was a manifestation of "early product imperfections."

Despite these concerns, many publishers also recognize the significant value of selling intellectual property to AI companies that require substantial amounts of data and content to optimize their artificial intelligence systems and develop new products. Over the past year, OpenAI has forged partnerships with numerous news publishers, including Politico, Axel Springer (parent company of BusinessInsider), The Associated Press, Le Monde, The Financial Times, and Dotdash Meredith (IAC subsidiary, owner of publications like People and BetterHomes&Gardens). In some deals, OpenAI provided millions of dollars in cash and cloud resources to publishers for the right to train new generative AI models. However, some publishers, including The New York Times, have opted to take legal action against OpenAI and its supporter Microsoft, accusing them of using their content to train AI systems without permission. OpenAI responded by calling The New York Times' lawsuit baseless.

OpenAI's discussions with publishers regarding search tools have primarily centered on how their news content would be used to answer user queries. On Thursday, OpenAI stated that publishers could control how their content appeared within SearchGPT. Robert Thomson, CEO of News Corp, said in OpenAI's press release that he believes OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his team are acutely aware that any AI-based search service must rely on "high-quality, credible information from trusted sources."

For now, SearchGPT will be tested as a standalone product, but OpenAI plans to eventually integrate it into its main ChatGPT service. News publishers and creators will be among the first testers, and OpenAI has set up a waitlist for eligible US users to sign up and try it out.