Atti Abderrahim
Table of Contents
OpenAI new search engine, still in its prototype phase, is struggling to win over its initial users. Far from dethroning Google, SearchGPT has exposed its weaknesses, tempering the enthusiasm of even its most ardent supporters.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, believed it had discovered the secret formula to revolutionize online search and outpace Google. However, early feedback on SearchGPT has been far from the dazzling success anticipated, especially when compared to the performance of other AI-driven search engines like Perplexity.ai. With unfulfilled promises and developing features, the path to dominance seems distant and fraught with obstacles.
A Virtual Assistant Still Finding Its Way
SearchGPT aims to be the ultimate tool for online information retrieval, offering concise answers, clearly identified sources, and relevant images. However, the reality often falls short of this ambition. Ananay Arora, a software engineer and AI researcher, is particularly critical of the prototype: “From a company like OpenAI, you’d expect a true breakthrough. But compared to ChatGPT, SearchGPT pales in comparison.”
One of the tool’s main weaknesses? Queries related to online shopping or local information. Where Google excels, thanks to years of data accumulation, SearchGPT struggles. Even more concerning is the specter of “hallucination” — the tendency of AI to fabricate information. Matt Berman, an AI expert, underscores this issue: “A major drawback of AI-based searches is that they can present completely false information with absolute confidence.”
Google Still Holds the Upper Hand
Despite these shortcomings, some see a glimmer of hope in SearchGPT. Daniel Lemire from the organization AI Mistakes considers OpenAI’s tool superior to responses generated by Google’s AI (AI Overviews). “I would choose SearchGPT over Google without hesitation,” he says. However, this opinion remains in the minority, given Google’s overwhelming dominance.
Jim Yu, the founder of BrightEdge, offers a more measured view: while fewer than 1% of searches on SearchGPT yield clearly erroneous information, Google still maintains a considerable lead in key areas. The empire built by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, like Rome, wasn’t built in a day, and dismantling it will require much more than a promising prototype.
On OpenAI’s side, there is a note of caution. Kayla Wood, a company spokesperson, outlines a long-term strategy: “We’re going to take the best features and integrate them into ChatGPT.” This suggests that SearchGPT may not be launched as a standalone product but rather as an enhancement to ChatGPT’s search capabilities.
As for the business model, the company is relying on subscriptions, without clarifying whether SearchGPT will be free or paid. OpenAI’s ambition is admirable, but toppling Google won’t happen in just a few months — and that’s hardly surprising.
Source : The Washington Post
