OpenAI is set to reveal an AI-driven search product, expanding its competition with Google. The announcement comes ahead of Google’s I/O conference, with OpenAI’s product aiming to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities in providing real-time information from the web.
11 May 2024 – OpenAI is poised to reveal its latest artificial intelligence-driven search offering on Monday, as reported by sources familiar with the matter, signaling a significant escalation in its rivalry with search giant Google. While the announcement date remains tentative, it marks a pivotal moment in the tech landscape, with Microsoft-backed OpenAI positioning itself to challenge Google’s dominance in search alongside Perplexity, a well-funded AI startup.
The revelation of OpenAI’s search product comes amidst heightened anticipation surrounding the company’s upcoming live event on Monday, where it plans to showcase updates to its ChatGPT and GPT-4 models. CEO Sam Altman clarified that the unveiling does not involve GPT-5 or a search engine, emphasizing the development of new features that promise to captivate users.
The timing of OpenAI’s announcement, just ahead of Google’s annual I/O conference, suggests a strategic move to preempt the unveiling of Google’s anticipated AI-related products. According to Bloomberg, OpenAI’s search product builds upon its flagship ChatGPT platform, enabling users to access direct information from the web along with citations, enhancing the platform’s utility and credibility.
ChatGPT, renowned for its human-like text responses generated by cutting-edge AI models, has long been considered an alternative for online information gathering. However, challenges persist in delivering accurate and real-time data, prompting OpenAI’s integration with Microsoft’s Bing for paid subscribers. Meanwhile, Google has also advanced its generative AI capabilities within its eponymous search engine.
In this competitive landscape, startup Perplexity, founded by a former OpenAI researcher, has gained traction with its AI-native search interface, boasting features such as citations and multimedia responses. With 10 million monthly active users, Perplexity presents a formidable competitor to OpenAI’s evolving offerings.
Despite ChatGPT’s earlier milestone of reaching 100 million monthly active users, its traffic has experienced fluctuations, with recent data suggesting a gradual return to peak levels. OpenAI faces pressure to expand its user base and enhance the platform’s functionality, as evidenced by the retirement of ChatGPT plugins aimed at delivering updated and real-world information. – Ref: Reuters
