OpenAI has announced a major enhancement to its ChatGPT service, allowing the AI assistant to browse the internet for the first time. This update means ChatGPT can now provide current information rather than being limited to data from its training cutoff.
The new capability, called Browse with Bing, is available to Plus and Enterprise subscribers initially. When activated, ChatGPT can search the web through Microsoft’s Bing, access real-time information, and cite its sources with links to the original content.
“This is a big step toward making AI assistants more factual and up-to-date,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. “We’re committed to enhancing ChatGPT’s capabilities while maintaining our focus on safety and accuracy.”
The feature addresses one of the most significant limitations of large language models—their inability to access current information. Previously, ChatGPT’s knowledge was limited to its training data, which had a cutoff date. With web browsing capabilities, the AI can now respond to queries about recent events and provide more relevant information.
Users can activate the feature in the settings menu under “Beta Features.” When enabled, ChatGPT will automatically determine when to search the web based on your questions. You can also explicitly instruct it to search by starting your prompt with “search for” or similar phrases.
For more information about this update, visit OpenAI’s official blog post.
