28-9-2023 (CALIFORNIA) Microsoft-backed OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT users will now have the ability to browse the web, thereby expanding the chatbot’s access to a wider range of data beyond its previous knowledge cutoff date in September 2021.
OpenAI, the artificial intelligence startup, has unveiled this new browsing feature, allowing websites to control the manner in which ChatGPT can interact with them. This move represents a notable step forward in the capabilities of the viral chatbot.
According to OpenAI, this web browsing feature will be initially available to Plus and Enterprise users, with plans to extend it to all users in the near future. OpenAI has provided a clear instruction for enabling this feature, directing users to select “Browse with Bing” in the GPT-4 interface.
In addition to this web browsing enhancement, OpenAI has also recently introduced a significant update that enables ChatGPT to engage in voice conversations with users and interact with them using images. This development brings ChatGPT closer to the functionality of popular AI assistants such as Apple’s Siri.
It’s worth noting that OpenAI had previously experimented with a feature that allowed users to access the latest information through the Bing search engine as part of its premium ChatGPT Plus offering. However, this feature was temporarily disabled due to concerns that it might enable users to bypass paywalls and access paid content without authorization.
ChatGPT has made a remarkable impact as one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history. It achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 million monthly active users in January of this year. Although it was later surpassed by Meta’s Threads app, ChatGPT’s rise has garnered substantial investor interest.
Recent reports, including from Reuters, have suggested that OpenAI is currently in discussions with shareholders regarding a potential sale of existing shares at a significantly higher valuation than just a few months ago.
