OpenAI updates ChatGPT search with smarter answers and image search
THE DECODERArtificial Intelligence: News, Business, Research
Enhanced Features
OpenAI has introduced a significant update to ChatGPT's integrated search, enhancing its capabilities with smarter answers, improved handling of lengthy conversations, and a new image search functionality. This overhaul aims to provide more precise responses, better comprehension of extended context, and increased reliability in following instructions, especially in prolonged interactions. The updated system is designed to reduce repetitive answers and conducts multiple searches concurrently for complex inquiries.
Image Search Tool
One of the major additions is the new image search feature, which allows users to retrieve information online by uploading images. This inclusion of a multimodal search tool in the platform has garnered positive feedback from users in internal testing, with preferences leaning towards the new search results over the previous version.
Improvements and Future Plans
While some answers may now be more detailed, the chain-of-thought approach adopted by ChatGPT can occasionally result in unnecessarily complex reasoning for simple queries. OpenAI has acknowledged this issue and plans to gradually address it. Despite these enhancements, there is still a possibility of incorrect responses, prompting users to verify the information provided by ChatGPT.
Impact on Web Ecosystem
The enhanced search capabilities of ChatGPT could potentially reshape the online landscape by delivering answers directly within the chat interface instead of redirecting users to external websites. This development poses challenges for website operators, as exclusion from the platform could lead to decreased visibility, while inclusion may entail a loss of control over content presentation and potential advertising revenue.
Licensing Agreements and Concerns
OpenAI has secured licensing agreements with prominent publishers for news searches, including the Associated Press, Axel Springer, Financial Times, Reuters, and Vox Media. However, the specifics of these agreements and the negotiation process remain undisclosed. Websites without licenses face a complex dilemma, requiring them to make their content accessible via robots.txt to be featured in ChatGPT search. Early insights suggest that chat-based search generates less traffic compared to traditional web search, creating challenges for websites seeking visibility and user engagement.
