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OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, has since introduced numerous tools, including for coding, making videos, data analysis and creating images.<\/p>\n
It said its users would also be able to ask the new search tool follow-up questions to their original queries. <\/p>\n
“Getting answers on the web can take a lot of effort, often requiring multiple attempts to get relevant results,” the company said in its announcement.<\/p>\n
“We believe that by enhancing the conversational capabilities of our models with real-time information from the web, finding what you\u2019re looking for can be faster and easier.”<\/p>\n
Analysts have long argued that AI chatbots are the future of search. <\/p>\n
That is currently a very lucrative business for Google, which has been racing to add AI-powered tools of its own. <\/p>\n
Shares in its parent company, Alphabet, ended the day down nearly 3% following the announcement.<\/p>\n
Google remains by far the dominant player in search, claiming more than 90% of the market globally.<\/p>\n
The expansion of AI has raised environmental concerns, however, because of how much energy the systems use. <\/p>\n
The changes to how search engines respond to queries – offering conversational paragraphs instead of directing users to links – have also raised alarm among news companies, many of which rely on search traffic for audiences and revenue. <\/p>\n
OpenAI said it was working with publishers, including the Atlantic and News Corp, on its new search feature.<\/p>\n
“We are committed to a thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators,” the company said.<\/p>\n
“In addition to launching the SearchGPT prototype, we are also launching a way for publishers to manage how they appear in SearchGPT, so publishers have more choices.”<\/p>\n
The company has previously been sued by for allegedly “stealing” content to train its systems, including by the New York Times.<\/p>\n
It has also announced partnerships with some outlets, including the Associated Press. <\/p>\n
OpenAI said media companies could still be featured in their results, even if they have declined to supply their material to train its model. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/picture><\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n