ChatGPT Search is now easier than ever before due to OpenAI’s announcement that it is available to all users without requiring sign-in. A post on X announced the update, which read: “ChatGPT Search is now available to everyone on chatgpt.com. No sign-up required.”
Google and other established search engines have long controlled the online search business, but this change makes their services more accessible and puts them under more competitive pressure. The increased availability of ChatGPT Search might have an effect on other AI-driven search services like Perplexity.
Unlike the regular ChatGPT chatbot, the new ChatGPT Search, which debuted in October 2024, provides dynamic, real-time information. While the regular ChatGPT model is trained on a static dataset up to a certain cutoff date and does not retrieve live data, ChatGPT Search retrieves and displays current information, making it ideal for time-sensitive inquiries such as current events, market prices, and weather updates.
An important difference is that users can verify the information and explore deeper details using ChatGPT Search because it contains sources and links within its responses. This feature sets it apart from rivals like Perplexity, which places an emphasis on open source as well.
Visit ChatGPT.com and click the “Search” option in the prompt box to access ChatGPT Search. After that, it finds pertinent real-time data and shows the sources in little boxes inside the answer. All of the references are available via these links or by clicking the “Sources” button at the bottom of the response.
Recent releases from OpenAI include Deep Research, an AI system that can autonomously conduct multi-step research, and Operator, an AI agent that can execute web-based activities without human intervention. Both improvements aim to boost work and make it easier for users to find information.