November 22, 2024 – According to a report by The Information, OpenAI is considering launching its own AI-based chatbot browser to directly compete with Google.
Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that OpenAI is in discussions or has already reached agreements with various parties to provide search services for travel, food, real estate, and retail websites. These include platforms such as Conde Nast, Redfin, Eventbrite, and Priceline.
Additionally, insiders with knowledge of OpenAI’s situation have disclosed that the company has also discussed providing AI capabilities for Samsung devices, similar to the agreement it previously reached with Apple’s Siri. This is notable as Samsung remains a significant business partner of both Microsoft and Google.
As reported earlier, OpenAI entered the search domain earlier this month by introducing a search function within ChatGPT. This new feature positions ChatGPT as a competitor to Microsoft’s Bing and the emerging search-based AI chatbot service, Perplexity.
OpenAI explains that ChatGPT’s search capability automatically determines whether to retrieve information from the web based on user needs, quickly delivering the latest information along with relevant web links.
The official blog states that ChatGPT’s search function utilizes technology from third-party search providers and integrates content directly from partners to fulfill users’ information requirements. The model powering the search engine is a fine-tuned version of GPT-4o. ChatGPT Plus and Team users can start using this feature immediately, while enterprise and educational institution users will gain access in the coming weeks. Free users, on the other hand, will have gradual access over the next few months.
Furthermore, OpenAI has announced broad collaborations with the news industry and has gathered feedback on the search function from its partners. Any website or publisher can choose to appear in ChatGPT search results. The list of media and publishing partners includes the Associated Press, Axel Springer, Conde Nast, Meredith, the Financial Times, GEDI, Hearst, Le Monde, Reuters, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, and Vox Media, among others.
