ChatGPT’s New Web Browsing Upgrade: Real-Time Info at Your Fingertips
OpenAI, the AI startup supported by tech giant Microsoft, continues to innovate its AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The latest update, a web browsing feature, promises to revolutionise how users interact with AI.
ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources. It is no longer limited to data before September 2021. pic.twitter.com/pyj8a9HWkB
ChatGPT’s recent upgrade, reported by Reuters on September 27th, introduces a web browsing feature. This groundbreaking development expands the AI’s data access capabilities beyond its previous limitations. Initially, this feature is available exclusively to Plus and Enterprise users, allowing websites to control ChatGPT’s interactions with them.
Users can select the “Browse with Bing” option to activate browsing under the GPT-4 model. OpenAI has plans to make this feature accessible to all users shortly. It’s worth noting that OpenAI had previously experimented with a Bing-powered feature that allowed ChatGPT to fetch information from the web. However, due to concerns about potential firewall breaches, this feature was temporarily disabled.
ChatGPT’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Earlier this year, it became the fastest-growing consumer application in history, boasting 100 million monthly active users in January. This rapid ascent has also caught the attention of investors, with reports suggesting that OpenAI may sell existing shares at a significantly higher valuation than just a few months ago.
A Multifaceted Chatbot
The introduction of web browsing is just one of several updates enhancing ChatGPT’s capabilities. OpenAI is diligently working to make this chatbot a more versatile AI assistant, akin to Apple’s Siri. Recent additions include the ability for ChatGPT to engage in voice conversations and interact with images. OpenAI proudly proclaimed, “ChatGPT can now see, hear, and speak,” signalling a departure from traditional text-based communication.
ChatGPT can now see, hear, and speak. Rolling out over next two weeks, Plus users will be able to have voice conversations with ChatGPT (iOS & Android) and to include images in conversations (all platforms). https://t.co/uNZjgbR5Bmpic.twitter.com/paG0hMshXb
This expansion in functionality opens up new possibilities for users. They can now snap a picture of a landmark while travelling and engage in real-time conversations about its significance. Even mundane tasks like figuring out what’s for dinner are more manageable with ChatGPT; users can snap pictures of their fridge and pantry, receive meal suggestions, and ask follow-up questions for step-by-step recipes.
A Hardware Future?
OpenAI’s ambitions extend beyond just software improvements. Reports on September 26th indicated that CEO Sam Altman was considering the development of a native hardware device to house the company’s generative AI software. This strategic move would resemble Apple’s integrated product approach, potentially setting OpenAI on a path to rival the tech giant’s success.
ChatGPT Breaks Free: No More Limits to Information
In a significant development, OpenAI’s ChatGPT now boasts web browsing capabilities, heralding a new era in AI interactions. While this feature is exclusive to Plus and Enterprise subscribers, OpenAI has hinted that it will become available to all users soon.
Embracing Real-Time Information
As of September 27th, ChatGPT can access and integrate up-to-date information from the internet into its responses. This marks a substantial departure from its previous limitations, where its knowledge base extended only up to September 2021.
Before this update, ChatGPT’s users faced a growing gap in its knowledge base. AI models like generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) are trained on historical data, causing ChatGPT’s knowledge to stagnate in 2021.
Past Challenges and Future Possibilities
OpenAI has encountered challenges in implementing web browsing for ChatGPT. Reports from June 2023 revealed that beta versions of ChatGPT with web browsing were used to bypass paywalls, showcasing the power of this new capability. However, the AI occasionally hallucinated or mixed recent and historical information.
Despite these hurdles, OpenAI is dedicated to refining ChatGPT’s web browsing feature and making it available to a broader audience. The ability to access real-time information promises to make ChatGPT an even more valuable resource for users.
Conclusion
OpenAI’s relentless pursuit of enhancing ChatGPT’s capabilities through web browsing, voice interactions, and image recognition positions it as a formidable contender in AI assistants. With the promise of further developments on the horizon, ChatGPT is breaking free from the limitations of its past, ushering in a new era of AI-powered communication and information access.
