ChatGPT just got a lot more like Google. Parent company OpenAI announced that its ChatGPT Search feature, which acts like a search engine, is now available for logged-out users for the first time.
Similar to the logged-in experience, ChatGPT can now search the internet and provide links to relevant web sources. People can use natural language to ask for up-to-date sports scores, news, stock quotes and other information.
Read more: Generative AI: What You Need to Know About the Tech Behind ChatGPT
Users typing in questions can choose to press the web search icon located below the question bar. It will then display a series of links at the bottom from trusted sources. As with any use of AI, users should be aware of potential factual errors, as AI chatbots are known for hallucinations, or presenting false information as true. The provided links can assist with fact-checking.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman retweeted the news on Thursday, adding: “Make search great again.”
In October, the company rolled out ChatGPT search to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, as well as SearchGPT waitlist users, and expanded in December to logged-in users.
The change is part of a greater effort to provide ChatGPT with more useful answers. It also comes as OpenAI continues to ramp up its efforts to be more ubiquitous. Last month, OpenAI introduced a new AI agent called Operator, designed to make everyday tasks easier, from making dinner reservations and ordering groceries to filling out forms.
OpenAI and ChatGPT also face increased competition not only from US players such as Google and Anthropic but from Chinese startup DeepSeek.
