OpenAI's SearchGPT Takes on Google in Search Market

OpenAI's SearchGPT Takes on Google in Search Market

By Staff Writer 29 July 2024

OpenAI is making a significant foray into the search engine domain traditionally controlled by Google, with the launch of its new AI-driven search tool, SearchGPT. Announced on Thursday (July 25), this innovative search engine leverages artificial intelligence to access and present real-time information from the internet.

The move positions OpenAI in direct competition with Google's established search engine, as well as Microsoft’s Bing and emerging rivals such as Perplexity—a search-focused AI chatbot backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia.

Following the announcement, shares of Alphabet, Google's parent company, fell by 3% on Thursday. OpenAI has begun accepting sign-ups for SearchGPT, which is currently in a prototype phase and undergoing testing with a select group of users and publishers. The company plans to integrate the most effective features of SearchGPT into its ChatGPT platform in the near future.

Kingsley Crane, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity, noted that the advent of AI-powered search tools like SearchGPT and Perplexity underscores the evolving landscape of content engagement, while intensifying the competitive pressure on Google to enhance its search offerings.

SearchGPT also marks a step towards deeper collaboration between OpenAI and publishers, following recent content licensing agreements with major organizations such as Associated Press, News Corp, and Axel Springer.

However, new entrants in the AI-powered search market may face their own hurdles. Perplexity, for example, is currently facing legal challenges from publishers including Wired, Forbes, and Condé Nast.

Source: Yuvraj Malik / Reuters

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