Key Points:
- OpenAI is set to announce its AI-powered search product, intensifying competition with Google in the online search market.
- The search product is expected to enhance OpenAI’s ChatGPT by enabling it to retrieve information directly from the web with citations.
- OpenAI’s move follows reports of Microsoft-backed efforts to develop a search product to rival Google and Perplexity.
- OpenAI faces challenges in maintaining ChatGPT’s user growth amid fluctuations in website traffic, prompting ongoing efforts to enhance its offerings.
OpenAI is set to unveil its artificial intelligence-driven search product on Monday, escalating its rivalry with tech giant Google. According to sources familiar with the matter, the announcement signals OpenAI’s ambition to compete in online search alongside established players like Google.
While the announcement date is subject to change, it underscores OpenAI’s strategic move into the search market, challenging Google’s dominance. Reports from Bloomberg and the Information have previously hinted at OpenAI’s development of a search product, backed by Microsoft, to rival Google and Perplexity, a well-funded AI search startup.
Details about OpenAI’s search product remain scarce, as the company declined to comment. However, it is expected to build upon OpenAI’s flagship product, ChatGPT, integrating AI capabilities to fetch information directly from the web with citations.
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s chatbot product renowned for its human-like responses, has previously struggled with providing accurate and real-time information from the web. OpenAI integrated ChatGPT with Microsoft’s Bing for paid subscribers to address this limitation. The upcoming search product aims to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities by enabling it to retrieve information more efficiently.
OpenAI’s move into the search market comes amidst growing competition, with Google expected to unveil new AI-related products at its annual I/O conference. Additionally, startup Perplexity, founded by a former OpenAI researcher, has gained traction by offering an AI-native search interface that emphasizes citations and multimedia content in search results.
Perplexity, valued at $1 billion, boasts 10 million monthly active users and has positioned itself as a formidable contender in the AI search landscape. OpenAI, while previously celebrating ChatGPT’s rapid user growth, has faced challenges in maintaining its momentum, with fluctuations in website traffic observed over the past year.
To improve ChatGPT’s relevance and usability, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT plugins to incorporate updated and real-world information. However, the initiative was retired in April, signaling the company’s ongoing efforts to refine its offerings and expand its user base.
