Why OpenAI's SearchGPT won't kill Google Search anytime soon
OpenAI introduced SearchGPT last month, it was believed to challenge Google's dominance in the space. However, rival search startup Perplexity AI's founder Aravind Srinivas and some AI researchers were quick to call out the tool's inaccuracies when prompted for simple search queries.
Whether GenAI-based search can ever dethrone incumbents like Google Chrome is still a far sight. But if it does, it could cause a tectonic shift in the way users consume AI in their daily lives. ET explains what the future of search could mean and what are the pressing concerns around it:
What is Search GPT?
Late last month, OpenAI said it is testing SearchGPT, a prototype of new search features designed to combine the conversational capabilities of AI models with information from the web. While this prototype is temporary, OpenAI plans to integrate these features directly into ChatGPT in the future.
Back in 2022, Perplexity AI was the first to build a GenAI-based search interface, Perplexity Ask, powered by OpenAI's GPT 3.5 model and Microsoft Bing.
While both products may appear similar, and in fact, the latter being derived from the former's base model, both have taken a different approach to monetise search in partnership with publishers and content creators. This could also mean the emergence of new business models for futuristic search engines.
But what are the challenges?
The primary objective of any search interface is to provide reliable and accurate information quickly with least efforts. GenAI prompting has not yet
