SearchGPT Is Coming Soon; Five Ways It Will Be Different Than Google

ChatGPT will soon have a built-in search engine. Here's everything we know about how it might change the way you search.

After months of speculation, OpenAI has announced it will bring a search engine to ChatGPT, with some 10,000 users reportedly testing the prototype. While I am still on the waitlist myself, sample queries provided by OpenAI and the Browse with Bing search functionality in the latest GPT-4o model have given me some early insights. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.

As I've delved into SearchGPT, the key question is how it will differ from Google, which dominates 90% of internet searches, and why anyone would prefer ChatGPT for web searches. In a March interview with Lex Fridman, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company is exploring whether there's a better way to help people find, act on, and synthesize information.

Here are five ways SearchGPT stands apart from Google based on early research:

**Search Results**

One significant difference between OpenAI's search and Google's is the results page. SearchGPT provides an answer summary with links to information sources, aiming to save time with more direct responses. For example, a SearchGPT query about the best tomatoes to grow in Minnesota lists Early Girl, Celebrity, Roma, and Cherokee Purple, along with gardening resource links. Google, on the other hand, offers an AI Overview and additional suggested questions, often requiring more scrolling to find answers. OpenAI hopes to eliminate this need for extensive browsing.

Danny Goodwin, editorial director of SEO news site Search Engine Land, noted that many people are frustrated with the difficulty of finding answers to simple questions through Google search, a sentiment particularly prevalent in the SEO industry.

**Ads**

SearchGPT will likely be ad-free, at least initially, as it will be available to ChatGPT Plus members who pay $20 a month for unlimited access to the GPT-4o model. In his interview with Fridman, Altman expressed a preference for a subscription model over ad-supported services, which he believes worsens with AI.

In contrast, Google has offered advertising since 2000, generating $237.8 billion from ads in 2023 alone.

**Context**

OpenAI plans to integrate search into its ChatGPT chatbot for a more conversational experience, where SearchGPT retains context to answer follow-up questions. For instance, a query about nudibranchs in Half Moon Bay delivers images, low tide times, and sources, with the ability to seamlessly provide a weather forecast upon follow-up. Google, however, requires separate searches for such contextual information.

**Hallucinations**

Both Google and SearchGPT have had instances of providing false or misleading information, known as hallucinations. Google's AI Overviews had a rocky start but now appear in about 8% of searches. SearchGPT has also had its issues, such as providing incorrect dates for events in promotional materials. ChatGPT warns users to verify important information, though it's unclear if SearchGPT will have a similar warning.

**Local Search and E-commerce**

Google has a well-established advantage in local search and e-commerce, with Google Shopping and local business features dating back to the early 2000s. While OpenAI plans to improve in these areas, current capabilities are more limited. For instance, a ChatGPT search for "pizza near me" required a zip code and returned three real local pizza places, though not all were favorites.

Mike Grehan, CEO of Chelsea Digital, suggests thinking of SearchGPT as a concierge service compared to Google's comprehensive encyclopedia-meets-atlas-meets-news-bureau.

As SearchGPT evolves, it promises to change how we search for information online. At Spectro Agency, we are excited about the potential of AI to transform digital experiences. Our expertise in high-end digital marketing, app creation, AI-powered solutions, chatbots, software creation, and website development positions us at the forefront of this innovation. Discover how we can help you harness the power of AI at spectroagency.com

Source: [CNET](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/searchgpt-is-coming-soon-five-ways-it-will-be-different-than-google/)