OpenAI has unveiled SearchGPT, a new search engine that could potentially rival Google. 

A few years after the launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI announced this unique search engine which they believe has the potential to elevate the capabilities of existing search engines to great new heights. SearchGPT is intended to be a far more advanced search engine than the current options out there; with the ability to cite sources making it easy for users to visit these sources and even connect with the publishers. 

How does it work? 

In terms of its functionality, it is similar to the likes of Google and Bing, where users will type an enquiry in the search bar that asks “What are you searching for?” and SearchGPT will respond with a structured answer to your request, providing direct links to the sources of its information. In addition to its response(s), SearchGPT will not only find you all the relevant information and its sources, but it will also make sense of it. Currently, search engines such as Google are limited in comparison to SearchGPT, as it only organises information that it believes is relevant to your query and provides it to you in list format, with the most accurate information being a priority. But again, it is important to remember SearchGPT is in its very early stages, so changes could still be made. 

It must be remembered that SearchGPT currently exists only as a prototype. Experts at OpenAI have referred to it as a “temporary prototype” which is still set to have big changes in the future. Since the announcement, SearchGPT has been undergoing basic testing and is available to a limited number of 10,000 users. 

Is SearchGPT potential competition for Google? 

With the news of SearchGPT on the horizon, questions have been asked as to how and if it will pose a threat to Google – it’s a solid question. When ChatGPT was launched in 2022, the main concern from investors was that Google would lose market share to the emerging AI-driven company. And now, two years later, it seems like that concern is even bigger. 

OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, says the prototype provides users with new ways to find information online efficiently and is significantly “more natural” and conversational. With SearchGPT making moves into Google’s market, it poses the threat of outdoing Google with advanced AI technology with potentially greater capabilities. Google continues to revamp it’s strategy behind the scenes to remain competitive in this ever-changing market.