Google Bard and Microsoft Bing are currently engaged in a charged battle to assert their dominance in the field of AI-powered search. However, ChatGPT’s recent update is poised to disrupt the status quo and pose a serious challenge to both industry stalwarts. Reports suggest that the highly acclaimed AI platform is gearing up to launch its web browsing feature, which is certain to pose a competitive threat to Google and Microsoft.
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can expect to gain first access to the latest experimental features for the popular chatbot soon. The beta versions of web integration and plugins will be launched next week, offering two exciting and potentially valuable updates to the chatbot. Subscribers will be able to access a beta panel via their account settings, allowing them to test out the new functionalities.
As per the beta features update shared by OpenAI via its official blog, the latest iteration of ChatGPT – now connected to the internet – can navigate the online sphere to provide relevant answers about current affairs and other topical matters.
It is worth noting that last year in March, OpenAI put forth the proposal of ChatGPT plugins along with the announcement of its plans to incorporate web search functionality. A waitlist was subsequently placed for both users and developers keen on exploring the new feature. The development has now been transformed into the beta testing phase for ChatGPT’s GPT-4 model, thereby making it more widely available for usage.
It seems evident that the advancement has been expedited, possibly as a reaction to the unveiling of Google Bard and its new features. The recent beta version now positions ChatGPT in a comparable category as Microsoft’s Bing Chat, albeit without overtly transforming it into a search engine. The major implication is that ChatGPT will have the capability to discern instances when it lacks sufficient information to address a query and will consequently perform an internet search for an appropriate source.
Via Decrypt
