OpenAI’s latest browsing feature is currently exclusive to Plus and Enterprise subscribers but is expected to become available to all users in the near future. The announcement was made through a post on X (formerly Twitter) by OpenAI on September 27. This new capability allows ChatGPT to browse the web and incorporate the most current information into its responses.
The update is already accessible to Plus and Enterprise users who are utilizing the GPT-4 model. However, it remains uncertain whether non-premium users will gain access to GPT-4 or if web browsing will be extended to the GPT 3.5 model. OpenAI has not provided clarification on this matter as of yet.
OpenAI’s decision to implement web browsing capabilities for ChatGPT stemmed from the need to address the widening knowledge gap that existed prior to this update. Traditional AI models like generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) had a limitation where ChatGPT’s knowledge was limited to information available up to September 2021, which was the year it was essentially finalized for production.
OpenAI had previously conducted testing on the integration of browsing with ChatGPT, reporting both successes and challenges. In June 2023, there were reports of beta versions of ChatGPT with browsing being used to bypass paywalls. However, it was noted that ChatGPT occasionally produced imaginative responses and at times mixed recent and historical information.
This browsing feature update for ChatGPT follows closely after OpenAI’s announcement on September 25 about a multimodal update for the chatbot. With this update, ChatGPT, including GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, gained the ability to comprehend spoken queries in plain language, respond using one of five different voices, and interpret images.
Additionally, OpenAI recently unveiled DALL-E 3, the latest iteration of its image-generation AI. With these numerous updates across the company’s product lineup, there is much anticipation for what OpenAI will reveal at its inaugural developer’s conference, OpenAI DevDay, scheduled for November 6 in San Francisco.
