Day eight of the 12 Days of OpenAI was several minutes shorter than the previous days, but the brevity fits with the ChatGPT Search news that OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil and his team revealed. Unlike the Projects feature unveiled Friday, most people who use the Internet understand the concept of searching for things online.
Still, it wasn’t without some exciting news for ChatGPT users, especially those who didn’t pay for a subscription. Only ChatGPT Plus subscribers had access to the search feature when it launched in beta a few months ago, but now it’s universally accessible when you log into your account.
And it’s not just the same ChatGPT Search that subscribers have been playing with so far. OpenAI claims that the search performs better and more accurately than before. And when you ask a question, the AI decides whether to get new data from the internet or answer based on what it already knows. You get results with web previews, images, and even videos that play right in the chat, which can put an end to tab hopping.
Users of the ChatGPT mobile app will also find that search integrates more smoothly into Android and iOS. The iOS version even links to Apple Maps to provide directions. Additionally, ChatGPT Search now works with voice mode on the mobile app, so you can let the AI search online without typing.
Search AI
For example, suppose you feel like having sushi. You can use ChatGPT as your local guide and ask, “Where’s a good sushi place nearby?” ChatGPT gives you options, complete with photos, links and directions, that link to Apple Maps on iOS. Because ChatGPT looks up recent information online, it can even work for seasonal stores.
Question: “What time does the Christmas market close?” and ChatGPT retrieves current hours and details, so you aren’t left out in the cold. Or while you’re curled up on the couch, you can ask, “What’s a good comedy movie on Netflix?” and even watch the trailer directly in the chat.
Thanks to the voice mode connection, the search can be carried out hands-free. So if you’ve got your hands in a cooking project and need a quick recipe or measurement conversion, just ask ChatGPT out loud. It gives you answers while you stir the pot.
ChatGPT Search may not immediately replace the classic search engines, but the conversational style brings something new. Of course, OpenAI isn’t alone in pursuing AI-powered search. That’s the main use of tools like Perplexity, which Claude and of course Google Gemini also have variations on.
Still, ChatGPT Search is a solid addition to the 12 Days of OpenAI, which promises a more developer-focused announcement tomorrow. We’ll see if the company can find something more exciting to close out the rest of the event this week.