Earlier today we reported that ChatGPT on the web now offers search suggestions when you start typing queries. We mentioned that this change could prepare for a wider deployment of SearchGPT. OpenAI has now integrated this web search functionality into ChatGPT, allowing it to better compete with search engines like Google Search and Microsoft Bing.

OpenAI has officially announcement the launch of ChatGPT Search. The new AI-based functionality allows ChatGPT to provide answers with links to relevant web sources. Based on their queries, users will be able to get sports scores, news, stock quotes and more from the information and data providers OpenAI has partnered with. However, users will also be able to search manually if they wish by clicking on the web search icon.

As a reminder, the company launched a prototype of its future search engine, SearchGPT, in July. OpenAI described the prototype as a way to “search in a more natural and intuitive way.” Initially available to 10,000 beta testers, it has now been added to the company’s chatbot. As the company explains, the search function “is a refined version of GPT-4o.”

Going forward, discussions will now include links to news articles and posts. Additionally, there will be a “Sources” button that you can click to open a sidebar that shows the references used for the answer. OpenAI adds that it will continue to improve search, particularly in areas such as shopping and travel. To do this, it plans to “leverage the reasoning capabilities of the OpenAI o1 series to perform deeper research.”

This move by OpenAI could have larger implications for Google’s search engine dominance. Alphabet has long worried that ChatGPT could replace Google Search when most people access the search engine.

The new web search feature will be available on all ChatGPT platforms, including Web, iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. It looks like only ChatGPT Plus, Team users, and anyone on the SearchGPT waitlist will have access starting today. If you are an Enterprise or Edu user, you will have to wait a few weeks. For free users, don’t expect to gain access anytime soon; it should arrive in the coming months.