OpenAI said on Wednesday that their generative AI platform, ChatGPT, now has the ability to tap into the enormous expanse of the internet, utilizing real-time data to improve its responses. This achievement represents a significant advancement for the software, which had previously depended entirely on a comprehensive database that froze in time to August 2021.
“ChatGPT can now surf the web to furnish you with the most current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources,” OpenAI announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. It is no longer limited by data prior to September 2021.”
Furthermore, OpenAI indicated that this new feature has a twist: websites will have some control over how ChatGPT interacts with their content.
The software update was initially given out to paying customers in June, but it had to be temporarily suspended after some ingenious users discovered ways to circumvent paywalls protecting internet content. This function, dubbed “Browse with Bing,” is currently available only to ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscription subscribers, but OpenAI promises that it will soon be available to all users.
It’s worth mentioning that Microsoft, OpenAI’s partner, has already launched Bing Chat, a GPT-4 (the underlying language model powering ChatGPT) interface with its internet search engine. Similarly, Google’s conversational AI, Bard, is firmly integrated into its ecosystem.
What distinguishes ChatGPT currently is its ability to display direct sources alongside its responses. This is a shift from its previous reliance on a single database, providing consumers with a more dynamic and up-to-date experience.
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