OpenAI testing prototype search engine with news publishers

CEOs of The Atlantic and News Corp shared statements supporting the SearchGPT prototype launch.

A screenshot from a demonstration video showing how OpenAI's SearchGPT search engine will work. The user has searched for information about "music festivals in boone north carolina in august" and has been presented with links to four results, as well as a sidebar offering links to related pages. Picture: OpenAI

OpenAI has begun testing a prototype of its AI-driven search engine SearchGPT with publishers, claiming it will “help users connect” with news sites rather than simply eat up all their traffic.

The ChatGPT parent company addressed publisher concerns about AI-driven search directly in its post announcing the prototype on Thursday, saying SearchGPT “is designed to help users connect with publishers by prominently citing and linking to them in searches”.

The prototype is not yet open to the public, having launched for now “to a small group of users and publishers to get feedback”. Anyone with an OpenAI account is invited to join a waitlist for access.

Bron Maher

@bron_maher

Bron Maher is Press Gazette's senior reporter, covering US and UK media. He joined Press Gazette in November 2021 from Newsguard, a US start-up that reviews how far news sites adhere to journalistic standards.