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On Thursday, OpenAI introduced SearchGPT, a prototype search engine designed to deliver “fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.” The new tool aims to enhance the search experience by enabling users to engage in a more conversational and intuitive manner, with the ability to ask follow-up questions just as they would in a dialogue.
This announcement has significant implications for Google, which has dominated the search engine market for years. The introduction of SearchGPT follows concerns from Alphabet investors about OpenAI’s potential to capture market share from Google. Since ChatGPT’s debut in November 2022, there has been speculation about OpenAI’s growing influence in the search domain.
OpenAI plans to integrate SearchGPT into its ChatGPT platform, offering a more natural and interactive search experience. CEO Sam Altman expressed optimism about improving search technology, stating, “We think there is room to make search much better than it is today.”
In response to OpenAI’s announcement, Alphabet shares fell over 3% to close at $167.28, while the Nasdaq was down less than 1%.
This move follows Google’s recent introduction of AI Overview in May, a feature designed to provide summary answers at the top of search results. Despite its intentions, AI Overview has faced criticism for delivering inaccurate or nonsensical results, which users cannot currently opt out of.
Daniel Faggella, founder of Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research, commented on Google’s response to the rise of generative AI, noting, “Google has been kind of shaking in their boots a little bit since this stuff first popped off.”
The launch of SearchGPT is also accompanied by OpenAI’s release of “GPT-4o mini,” an offshoot of its powerful GPT-4o model. This development, along with a new partnership with Apple for ChatGPT-Siri integration, highlights OpenAI’s efforts to maintain its leadership in the generative AI sector.
OpenAI, valued at over $80 billion, is expanding its executive team with the hiring of Sarah Friar as CFO and Kevin Weil as CPO. This strategic bolstering of its leadership reflects the company’s push to remain at the forefront of AI innovation.
SearchGPT’s prototype is expected to provide richer visual results and a more comprehensive understanding for users, as OpenAI continues to focus on multimodal AI capabilities, integrating various forms of media and interaction within its tools.