If you’ve been waiting patiently to try ChatGPT Search, you won’t have to wait much longer. Following the launch of paid subscribers this fall, OpenAI announced on Monday that it will make the tool available to everyone, without the need for a Plus or Pro membership, “over the coming months.”
At the moment, all you need to start using ChatGPT Search is an OpenAI account. Once logged in, if your query requires it, ChatGPT will automatically search the web for the latest information to answer your question. You can also force it to search the web, thanks to a new convenient icon located right in the tooltip bar. OpenAI has also added the ability to make ChatGPT Search your browser’s default search engine.
At the same time, OpenAI integrates ChatGPT Search and the advanced voice mode together. As you may have guessed, the former allows ChatGPT’s audio persona to search the web for answers to your questions and answer them in a natural, conversational manner. For example, let’s say you’re going on vacation to another city. You can ask ChatGPT what the weather will be like when you arrive, and thanks to the built-in search function, the chatbot will be able to answer this question with the most up-to-date information.
To facilitate this functionality, OpenAI says it has partnered with leading news and data providers. As a result, you will also see widgets for stocks, sports scores, weather, etc. In fact, ChatGPT Search is becoming a full-fledged competitor to Google before our eyes.
OpenAI announced the expansion of availability during its latest livestream, 12 Days of OpenAI. In previous livestreams, the company announced the general availability of Sora and ChatGPT Pro, a new $200 chatbot subscription. With four days left, it is hard to imagine that the company will top this announcement, but at this point, OpenAI probably has one or two more surprises up its sleeve.
