ChatGPT users will now have the ability to browse the web, according to OpenAI, a Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence startup. This expands the data accessible to the viral chatbot beyond its previous cutoff in September 2021. OpenAI stated that the new browsing feature will allow websites to control how ChatGPT interacts with them. The feature is currently available to Plus and Enterprise users, with plans to expand it to all users soon. To enable browsing, users can choose “Browse with Bing” in the GPT-4 selector. OpenAI also recently announced a major update that enables ChatGPT to have voice conversations with users and interact using images, bringing it closer to popular AI assistants like Apple’s Siri.
Previously, OpenAI had tested a feature that allowed users to access the latest information through the Bing search engine within the premium ChatGPT Plus offering. However, this feature was later disabled due to concerns that it could enable users to bypass paywalls. Despite this setback, ChatGPT experienced rapid growth and became the fastest-growing consumer application in history, reaching 100 million monthly active users in January. Its popularity has sparked investor interest in OpenAI, with reports suggesting that the startup is in talks with shareholders about a possible sale of existing shares at a significantly higher valuation than a few months ago.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s announcement of the browsing feature for ChatGPT expands its capabilities and access to information on the web. This development, along with the recent update enabling voice conversations and image interactions, positions ChatGPT as a more advanced AI assistant. The growth and success of ChatGPT have attracted investor attention, potentially leading to a higher valuation for OpenAI.
