OpenAI has made its ChatGPT Search feature available for free to all users with an OpenAI account. The update was previously only accessible to paying users behind a subscription paywall.
The search functionality is now integrated into the existing ChatGPT platform, allowing users to access it on mobile apps, desktop apps, and web access. Searching within ChatGPT functions similarly to asking any other question, but with an added benefit of using near-real-time information from the web.
A dedicated button forces ChatGPT to search the web, although the author notes they have rarely needed this feature in their experience. Users must log into their ChatGPT account and access the web search product for free.
While OpenAI’s AI system has shown promise, it is not without its challenges. Large language models like ChatGPT don’t truly understand user queries or reality; they rely on probabilistic engines to provide likely answers. However, in the author’s experience, ChatGPT delivers excellent results for most day-to-day queries.
ChatGPT Search appears to cover 95% of the author’s searching needs, and users can easily set it as their default search engine through the chat interface. The feature also provides visual listings and maps, making it more useful than standard Google Search.
OpenAI has announced plans for a real-time audio experience where users can engage with ChatGPT in a conversational manner. This feature promises to provide additional insights but may slow down response times.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2024/12/16/chatgpt-search-now-free-for-all-heres-why-you-should-try-it