OpenAI, known for its AI chatbot ChatGPT, is reportedly in the works to develop its own search engine by attracting talent from Google, as per a report by Bloomberg. The company is said to be covertly working on a search platform that will compete directly with Google Search and Microsoft’s Bing.
Insiders familiar with the situation have disclosed that OpenAI intends to integrate this new search capability into ChatGPT. Users will be able to ask questions and obtain answers with references, and in some instances, accompanied by images for additional context.
Sources have mentioned OpenAI’s recruitment drive aimed at Google employees associated with the search team to strengthen its endeavors in creating the new search platform. While it remains ambiguous how many Google employees have transitioned to OpenAI’s search project, reports from The Verge also validate these efforts.
Developing an AI-driven search platform is no small feat, but OpenAI possesses a wealth of data, exceptional computational power, and large language models (LLMs) that set it apart. With a large user base already dependent on ChatGPT for responses, integrating a search feature seems like a natural progression for the startup.
Google, a longstanding leader in the search market, is evidently mindful of the potential challenge posed by OpenAI and similar AI-based search startups like Perplexity. In response, Google’s search lead, Prabhakar Raghavan, has emphasized the necessity for agility and adaptation among his team to navigate the evolving market dynamics.
While OpenAI has not disclosed an official timeline for the launch of its search service, speculation suggests a possible unveiling around Google’s upcoming I/O developer conference.
The technological landscape is rapidly changing, and OpenAI’s foray into search underscores the shifting dynamics of the industry. As the competition in AI-powered search intensifies, the strategic moves made by companies like OpenAI and Google will undoubtedly shape the future of information retrieval and user experiences.
