OpenAI has announced a new feature called Browsing for subscribers to ChatGPT Plus, the premium version of its AI-powered chatbot. Browsing allows users to search Bing for answers to questions directly within the ChatGPT app.
To enable Browsing, users can go to the New Features section in the app settings, select “GPT-4” in the model switcher, and choose “Browse with Bing” from the drop-down list. This feature is available on both the iOS and Android versions of the ChatGPT app.
OpenAI highlights that Browsing is particularly useful for inquiries related to current events and information that goes beyond the training data of ChatGPT, which is limited to information available up until 2021.
While Browsing enhances ChatGPT’s usefulness as a research assistant, some users view the limitation to Bing as a potential drawback. OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft, which has made significant investments in the company, likely drives the choice of using Bing. However, Bing is not considered the most comprehensive or reliable search engine compared to alternatives like Google.
Concerns have been raised in the past about Bing potentially favoring Microsoft-related results and the presence of disinformation in its search results. With Browsing limited to Bing, users may feel restricted if Bing fails to deliver accurate or satisfactory results.
In other news, the ChatGPT app has introduced another improvement. Tapping on a search result now directly takes users to the relevant point in the conversation. OpenAI plans to roll out these changes, including Browsing, throughout this week.
