OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT’s search engine is now rolling out to all users, including those on the free tier. This expansion was revealed during the company’s latest “12 Days of Ship-mas” livestream event. Originally introduced in October for paid subscribers, the search feature now requires only a free account and login to access.
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| Search GPT |
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| Search GPT Interface |
Key Features and Updates:
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Mobile Search Enhancements
ChatGPT now resembles a traditional search engine when searching for local information, such as restaurants or attractions. It displays a list of results with images, ratings, and operating hours. Clicking on a result reveals more details, including maps and directions, all directly within the app. -
Faster Search for Specific Sites
For searches involving categories like “hotel booking websites,” ChatGPT prioritizes surfacing website links before generating full responses, speeding up the search experience. -
Advanced Voice Mode with Web Search
Paid subscribers with access to Advanced Voice Mode can now automatically receive up-to-date information from the web in real time.
Availability
- Free Tier: ChatGPT’s search engine is now available to everyone with a free account.
- Paid Tier: Features like Advanced Voice Mode and some enhanced functionalities remain exclusive to paid users.
Broader Context
This rollout complements OpenAI’s broader push to make ChatGPT more functional and competitive. Earlier in its Ship-mas event series, OpenAI introduced the text-to-image model Sora and a $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscription.
These changes position ChatGPT as a more versatile alternative to traditional search engines, with a growing focus on integrating dynamic, real-world information and user-friendly tools.