# OpenAI Takes a Step Forward: What Competing with Google Might Entail
For many individuals, seeking information online is equated with using Google. Nevertheless, in recent times, various AI-based platforms such as Perplexity.ai, Gemini, and Copilot have surfaced, providing live data access from the internet. Up to this point, one notable absence from this roster has been OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, that’s set to change.
OpenAI has recently publicized a groundbreaking feature allowing **ChatGPT** to conduct real-time web searches. This innovation represents a pivotal change in user interaction with the chatbot, placing it as a prospective challenger to Google in the realm of search engines.
## Leveraging ChatGPT for Web Searches
### What’s Different?
The newly implemented **ChatGPT search capability** empowers users to gather real-time data from the internet, a function that was absent earlier. Previously, ChatGPT’s knowledge was confined to the information it had been trained on, which was limited to a certain period (typically between 2021 and 2023 depending on the model). Now, with this web search functionality, ChatGPT can furnish up-to-the-minute responses, enhancing its versatility and utility for current inquiries.
### How Does It Operate?
Engaging the search feature is simple. You can converse with ChatGPT as usual, and the chatbot will automatically assess whether an internet search is warranted based on the context of your question. Alternatively, users can purposefully enable the search feature to acquire the latest details from the web.
OpenAI showcased this functionality on their official social media channels, illustrating how ChatGPT can now provide **swift, relevant answers** accompanied by links to pertinent online sources. This marks a significant upgrade from earlier versions, which depended solely on existing knowledge.
### What Can the Search Feature Provide?
The new search functionality goes beyond merely fetching textual information. Per **The Verge**, ChatGPT will now have the capability to display **interactive components**, including graphs, tables, and maps. For instance, if you need directions, ChatGPT can create an interactive map akin to Google Maps, helping you visualize paths and locations.
There is also a **source sidebar** that enumerates relevant websites, permitting users to confirm the information or further explore specific subjects. This level of transparency is vital in a time when misinformation can proliferate rapidly, granting users the means to cross-verify the chatbot’s answers.
### What Powers the Search Function?
OpenAI has disclosed that the search feature will be driven by a blend of search technologies, including **Microsoft Bing**. This collaboration is not new, as OpenAI has partnered with Microsoft on numerous endeavors, which include integrating GPT models into Microsoft’s applications like Word and Excel. The search capability is a variant of **GPT-4**, finely tuned for real-time online searches.
## Didn’t ChatGPT Already Have Online Knowledge?
Indeed, but with certain restrictions. Before this upgrade, ChatGPT’s understanding was founded on a static dataset that spanned information only until a specific date. For example, the GPT-4 model’s knowledge cut-off was September 2021, and some subsequent versions extended this to 2023. Nevertheless, this data was not refreshed in real-time, indicating that any occurrences or advancements after the model’s training period were beyond ChatGPT’s scope.
The new search feature transforms this by enabling ChatGPT to tap into live data from the web, guaranteeing that users acquire the most current information at their disposal.
## The Drawback: Limited Availability
As with various new features from OpenAI, the search functionality is presently exclusive to **ChatGPT Plus** subscribers. These premium users enjoy early access to emerging features, and the search tool is no different. However, OpenAI has indicated that the feature will be made available to all users in the upcoming weeks, adhering to their standard release protocol.
## How to Utilize the Search Feature
Once the feature is enabled for your account, it can be utilized across different platforms, including **PC, Mac, iOS, and Android**. This multi-platform compatibility guarantees that users can obtain real-time information from ChatGPT wherever they are, whether using a desktop or a mobile device.
## Competing with Google: What Are the Implications?
While Google continues to dominate the search engine landscape, OpenAI’s newly introduced search feature indicates a change in how individuals might engage with the internet. Google has historically been the preferred source for locating information, but AI-enriched platforms like ChatGPT provide a more conversational and interactive search experience.
For example, rather than entering a query into a search box and sifting through a compilation of links, users can pose a question to ChatGPT and receive an immediate, structured answer, complete with links and interactive features. This could potentially save time and render the search process more user-friendly, particularly for intricate inquiries that necessitate consolidation from multiple sources.
Additionally, with the integration of features