OpenAI has unveiled its highly anticipated entry into the search market with SearchGPT, an AI-driven search engine that provides real-time internet information access.

The interface begins with a large text box prompting users with the question, “What are you looking for?” Unlike traditional search engines that present a simple list of links, SearchGPT organizes and interprets the data. For instance, OpenAI demonstrated the engine summarizing information on music festivals, offering brief descriptions of events alongside attribution links.

In another scenario, the search engine details the optimal time for planting tomatoes and provides a breakdown of different tomato varieties. Once the search results are displayed, users can ask follow-up questions or click on the sidebar to explore additional relevant links. Additionally, a feature called “visual answers” is included, though specifics on its functionality were not provided by OpenAI to The Verge before publication.

Currently, SearchGPT is in the prototype phase. Powered by the GPT-4 model family, the service is initially available to just 10,000 test users, according to OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood. Wood explained that OpenAI is collaborating with third-party partners and utilizing direct content feeds to refine its search results. The ultimate aim is to integrate these search capabilities directly into ChatGPT.

This move could pose a significant challenge to Google, which has been quickly incorporating AI features into its search engine, anxious that users might migrate to competitors offering similar tools first. It also places OpenAI in direct competition with the startup Perplexity, known for its AI “answer” engine. Recently, Perplexity faced criticism over an AI summaries feature accused of copying publishers’ content.

OpenAI appears to be responding to this backlash with a distinct approach. In a blog post, the company highlighted that SearchGPT was developed in collaboration with major news partners, including The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Vox Media, the parent company of The Verge. “Our news partners provided crucial feedback, and we are committed to continuing to seek their input,” Wood stated.

Publishers will have the ability to control their presence in OpenAI’s search features. They can choose to opt out of having their content used to train OpenAI’s models while still appearing in search results.

“SearchGPT is designed to facilitate connections between users and publishers by prominently citing and linking to them in search results,” OpenAI noted in its blog post. “Responses feature clear, in-line attribution with named sources and links, enabling users to easily access additional results through a sidebar with source links.”

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