Rumoured AI search engine from OpenAI could challenge Google, details veiled
There are speculations circulating that OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is in the process of developing a web search tool that could potentially rival established players such as Google and Bing. A recent report from The Information suggests that OpenAI’s search tool might leverage Microsoft’s Bing search functionality as its foundation.
Although OpenAI has not officially confirmed these plans, their focus on enhancing ChatGPT’s knowledge and web browsing capabilities indicates a shift towards a more contextual and conversational approach to search. The report proposes that the new tool could be integrated directly into ChatGPT as a premium feature for paying subscribers. Alternatively, there is the possibility of launching it as a standalone search product.
Initially, ChatGPT had a limitation with its knowledge cutoff, preventing access to the latest web information. However, in March 2023, OpenAI addressed this by introducing support for web plug-ins, including a browser plug-in developed by their team.
By September of the same year, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT had gained the capability to browse the web and provide current information. This feature was made possible by leveraging Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, which has historically been considered a distant follower compared to Google Search.
Microsoft has already invested $1 billion in OpenAI, and there are signs that they might increase their financial support for the startup. This aligns with Microsoft’s interest in utilising OpenAI’s technology. However, for Google, this development presents a potential challenge to its core search business, especially considering the question-answering capabilities of technologies like ChatGPT.
According to a recent report from The New York Times, the launch of ChatGPT on November 30 led Google’s management to issue an internal “code red.” Microsoft, being Google’s primary competitor in web search, operates the Bing search engine, which currently holds a relatively modest market share, representing only a low single-digit percentage of the global market.
