3 weeks ago
4
The main limitation of ChatGPT is its outdated knowledge and the fact that it can’t search the web in real time. This means you risk getting outdated and inaccurate answers. To fix this, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Search, allowing ChatGPT to pull live info from the web much like Google Search. Now, you can ask for the latest stock prices, the outcome of last night’s game, or breaking news—and get an answer that’s actually up-to-the-minute. OpenAI is now competing directly with Google Search, however, note that ChatGPT Search is baked into ChatGPT and not a separate search engine app.
Here’s everything you need to know about ChatGPT Search – how it works, how to access it, and how it stands apart from regular ChatGPT.
What is ChatGPT Search?
ChatGPT Search lets ChatGPT pull real-time information directly from the internet, bringing up-to-date answers just like Perplexity and Arc Search. Until now, ChatGPT’s knowledge only extended up to September 2021, and even the GPT-4o model only used Bing to search when it deemed necessary, checking a limited 2–3 sources.
Now, with ChatGPT Search, it can reference multiple sources—often around ten with links to sources just like Google Search—ensuring more accurate responses by cross-verifying information. This greatly reduces the chance of errors or ‘AI hallucinations’. However, the actual accuracy still depends on the sources it gathered. There’s still room for occasional inaccuracies though.
How to Access and Use It
Currently, ChatGPT Search is only available to ChatGPT Plus users and there is an initial waitlist, which is now closed. OpenAI, however, plans to roll it out to everyone in the coming months, including free, enterprise, and educational users.
For those with access, ChatGPT Search activates automatically for queries needing real-time info. Examples includes “Who won the Olympics this year?” You can also manually trigger it by selecting the “Search the web” icon in the ChatGPT textbox.
Free users who have joined the waitlist won’t see this icon. They can still type /Search and enter the question to access ChatGPT Search. However, free users only get a limited number of search prompts every day, just like the GPT-4o model.
Additionally, OpenAI introduced a ChatGPT Search extension for Chrome and Chromium browsers, allowing you to set ChatGPT as your default search engine. Just install it from the Chrome Web Store, and you can use the Omnibar to search directly on ChatGPT.
When results are generated, you can view all sources and citations by clicking on the sources button below the generated answers.
The real benefit of using ChatGPT Search isn’t getting quick answers in a clean layout—it’s also the flexibility to shape responses to your liking. You can request straightforward explanations or ask for analogies that make complex ideas easier to grasp. Check out our guide on how to set Custom Instructions on ChatGPT to customize the ChatGPT answers.
Using ChatGPT Search Like Google Search
ChatGPT Search can be a game changer for its ability to access the internet in real-time, delivering more accurate and relevant answers about current affairs and events. Here’s a look at somethings you can do with ChatGPT Search that you could previously use Google Search for:
Get Up-to Date Information and News: Now when you search for things like “Does Apple Photos have a Magic Eraser kind of feature” or “What happened in the recent US presidential debate?”, instead of showing outdated data, ChatGPT can answer accurately.
Weather Updates: Skip the hassle of opening a separate weather app—you can ask ChatGPT, “What’s the weather like right now?” and instantly get accurate, location-specific details. Want to check the forecast for the coming days, find out the chance of rain, or get weather updates for any location worldwide?
Stocks: You can also track financial information with prompts like “How is Google’s stock performing today?” or can even ask “Which US stocks have performed well in the last week”.
Sports Scores: Stay updated with live scores by asking, “What is the score in the India vs. Australia cricket match?”
ChatGPT Search is particularly useful for people looking to get quick answers without the clutter of ads or sponsored results you might find on a traditional search engine like Google Search.
ChatGPT Search With Other Advanced Features
The new ChatGPT Search feature significantly boosts accuracy by minimizing “hallucinations,” delivering more reliable results. However, advanced tools like GPTs, Canvas, and Search currently operate independently. This means, for now, you can’t combine real-time Search with the creative capabilities of Canvas in a single workflow, nor can you use a custom GPT and search online on the same chat.
However, these features are still in beta, so there’s hope they’ll eventually integrate, allowing for a more seamless and powerful experience in future updates.
Ravi Teja KNTS
From coding websites to crafting how-to guides, my journey from a computer science engineer to a tech writer has been fueled by a passion for making technology work for you. I've been writing about technology for over 3 years at TechWiser, with a portfolio of 700 articles related to AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. When I'm not demystifying tech, you can find me engrossed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
English (US) ·