OpenAI has announced that its ChatGPT Search feature is now accessible to all users with a free account, expanding beyond its previous limitation to paid subscribers. The company revealed this change during its “12 Days of OpenAI” event series, marking a significant shift in its service accessibility. Users can activate the search function by clicking a globe icon in the compose bar after logging in to their account.
The updated search experience introduces several new features, including prominent webpage links displayed before AI-generated responses and voice query capabilities through Advanced Voice Mode. This voice feature allows users to verbally ask questions and receive responses in their chosen voice style from among ten preset options. The update demonstrates OpenAI’s effort to compete more directly with traditional search engines like Google.
Additionally, OpenAI has integrated mapping functionality into its mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms. When users search for location-based information, such as nearby restaurants, the system automatically connects with the device’s native mapping application – either Apple Maps or Google Maps – to display results. The company has also announced that users will be able to set ChatGPT Search as their default search engine through their web browsers.
Sources: VentureBeat, Bloomberg