OpenAI Challenges Google, Makes ChatGPT Search Free To All
Search is about to become much more competitive. OpenAI has made ChatGPT Search available to all logged-in users as part of its "12 Days of OpenAI" Christmas promotion.
Kevin Weil, OpenAI chief product officer, in a YouTube video announced that the company has made ChatGPT search available to all. The search feature, initially known as SearchGPT and available by invite-only, is now accessible to all users worldwide.
“OpenAI will probably take about 1% of the search market in 2025,” said Jim Yu, CEO at BrightEdge, as per data released by the company recently. This marks a significant change in the search market, which has seen limited new entrants gaining substantial market share.
For brands, referral traffic will become a major focus. OpenAI’s search engine witnessed a 44% growth in referral traffic last month, marking a six-fold increase in popularity compared to Perplexity. The update also includes the availability of mobile and desktop apps for all logged-in users.
New Features and Enhancements
In this latest version, search results prioritize links from sources like Netflix or travel-booking sites at the top, followed by ChatGPT’s text-based responses. Voice search has been introduced for users with Advanced Voice Mode, allowing real-time information retrieval on various topics such as travel, weather, or activities, with ChatGPT’s Voice Assistant responding in one of ten voice styles.
Browsing speed has been significantly improved for users who opt for ChatGPT as their default search engine. Additionally, a new Chrome extension enables users to set ChatGPT as their default search engine for quick and reliable answers from trusted sources. The tool also offers real-time video and screen-sharing features to enhance the Advanced Voice Mode experience and allows users to initiate video calls with a simple click on the video icon.
With OpenAI's continued advancements in search technology and accessibility, the landscape of online search is set to evolve rapidly. The democratization of ChatGPT Search signifies a new era of competitiveness in the search market that could potentially reshape the way users interact with search engines.
