OpenAI trials its new SearchGPT prototype

The company is testing SearchGPT, a prototype of new search features designed to combine the strength of its AI models with information from the web to provide fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources. The launch is aimed at a small group of users and publishers to gather feedback. Although this prototype is temporary, the company plans to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future. Interested individuals can sign up for the waitlist.

Revolutionising search

The process of getting answers on the web often requires multiple attempts to obtain relevant results. The company believes that by enhancing the conversational capabilities of its models with real-time information from the web, finding the desired information can be faster and easier.

SearchGPT has been designed to quickly and directly respond to users' questions with up-to-date information from the web while providing clear links to relevant sources.

Users will be able to ask follow-up questions, similar to a conversation with a person, with shared context building with each query.

Partnering with publishers and creators

The company is committed to a thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators, aiming to help users discover publisher sites and experiences while bringing more choice to search. For decades, search has been a foundational way for publishers and creators to reach users. Now, the company is using AI to enhance this experience by highlighting high-quality content in a conversational interface with multiple opportunities for users to engage.

Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, stated: “AI search is going to become one of the key ways that people navigate the Internet, and it's crucial, in these early days, that the technology is built in a way that values, respects, and protects journalism and publishers. We look forward to partnering with OpenAI in the process, and creating a new way for readers to discover The Atlantic.”

SearchGPT is designed to help users connect with publishers by prominently citing and linking to them in searches. Responses include clear, in-line, named attribution and links so users know where information is coming from and can quickly engage with more results in a sidebar with source links.

The company has partnered with publishers to build this experience and continues to seek their feedback. In addition to launching the SearchGPT prototype, a new feature allows publishers to manage how they appear in SearchGPT, giving them more choices. Importantly, SearchGPT focuses on search and is separate from training OpenAI’s generative AI foundation models. Sites can be included in search results even if they opt out of generative AI training. More information about publisher controls and OpenAI’s bots can be found [here](opens in a new window).

The company has received feedback from publishers and creators who want to understand how best to engage with AI search products and how their content performs. This prototype will be used to gather more insights and share findings.

Robert Thomson, Chief Executive of News Corp, commented: “Sam and the truly talented team at OpenAI innately understand that for AI-powered search to be effective, it must be founded on the highest-quality, most reliable information furnished by trusted sources. For the heavens to be in equilibrium, the relationship between technology and content must be symbiotic and provenance must be protected.”

What comes next

The company plans to continue improving the experience in areas such as local information and commerce. Feedback on the prototype from users and publishers will be used to bring the best of the experience into ChatGPT. Those interested in trying SearchGPT can sign up for the waitlist.