OpenAI announced a surprising news a few days ago - the launch of the artificial intelligence search engine prototype SearchGPT, directly challenging Google's dominance of the online search market.
This bold move heralds a major escalation in the AI search war and could reshape the way users find and interact with information online.
SearchGPT brings new changes
SearchGPT is a temporary prototype of a new artificial intelligence search feature that can provide users with fast, timely answers and provide clear, relevant information sources.
OpenAI posted on July 25: “We are testing this feature with a small group of users to get feedback and plan to integrate the experience into ChatGPT.”
The new SearchGPT prototype promises to "deliver fast, timely, and clearly sourced relevant answers" and combines OpenAI's advanced language models with real-time web information. A conversational interface is also provided, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and build context throughout the search process.
“We believe that by leveraging real-time information from the web to enhance the conversational capabilities of our models, we can make it faster and easier to find what you’re looking for,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.
SearchGPT launches at a critical time in the evolution of search technology.
Source: weixin
Google has been cautiously dipping its toe into the AI-enhanced search industry, but OpenAI is diving right in. This aggressive move may force Google to accelerate the technology giant's artificial intelligence integration plan and may trigger rapid changes in the search industry.
Users accustomed to sifting through pages of search results may quickly find themselves engaging in dynamic, context-aware conversations with search engines. This will democratize access to information and make complex searches easier for ordinary users.
However, it also raises questions about the depth and breadth of knowledge these artificial intelligence systems can truly provide, and whether they can inadvertently create false information.
SearchGPT’s focus on provenance and attribution is a smart move by OpenAI, which is trying to position itself as a partner to publishers rather than a threat. By highlighting citations and linking sources, OpenAI reaches out to an industry that is often skeptical of artificial intelligence.
However, this move may not be enough to allay all concerns. The fundamental question remains: If artificial intelligence can provide comprehensive answers directly, will users click to the original source? This could lead to significant shifts in online traffic patterns, potentially upending the current digital publishing model.
The Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson was one of the few publishers to support the move in a written statement.
“AI search will become one of the primary ways people browse the web, and at this early stage, it’s critical to build this technology in a way that values, respects and protects journalism and publishers,” Thompson said.
Additionally, recent actions by Reddit highlight growing tensions in the industry.
Opportunities and challenges coexist
As AI systems become more sophisticated, we may see an increase in content paywalls and intellectual property legal battles. The outcome of these conflicts could affect the development of artificial intelligence and the future of digital publishing.
At the same time, the potential disruption of artificial intelligence to the digital advertising market is also worth noting. If SearchGPT develops, it could undermine Google's near-monopoly in the search advertising industry. Not only will this impact Google's bottom line, it could also lead to a reimagining of the capabilities of digital advertising in an artificial intelligence-driven search environment.
However, OpenAI faces huge obstacles. Scaling a functional artificial intelligence search engine to handle billions of queries per day is a huge technical challenge. Additionally, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated responses in real-time is critical. A few eye-catching errors can quickly erode user trust and send people fleeing back to familiar search engines.
Source: weixin
Perhaps the biggest challenge is striking the right balance between innovation and responsibility. As artificial intelligence search engines become more powerful, so do their influence in influencing public opinion and access to information. OpenAI will need to navigate complex ethical considerations to avoid inadvertently becoming a spreader of misinformation or biased views.
The tech world is holding its breath as OpenAI begins testing SearchGPT among select groups. This moment may signal the beginning of a new era of our interaction with the vastness of human knowledge.
Whether SearchGPT succeeds or fails, its launch is undoubtedly the first sign of the fierce competition that will define the future of search.
The launch of SearchGPT comes as OpenAI grapples with significant financial challenges that could threaten its future. According to reports, the company is still expected to face a loss of $5 billion in 2024, despite strong support from Microsoft.
huge financial pressure
The operating cost of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT is extremely high, with the daily cost of hardware equipment alone reaching approximately US$700,000. As models become more sophisticated, this number is expected to rise.
OpenAI’s total spending on AI training and staffing is expected to reach $7 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, by 2024.
Those spending significantly outpace rivals such as Amazon-backed Anthropic, which expects to burn $2.7 billion in the same period.
OpenAI could lose $5 billion this year and could run out of cash within 12 months unless they raise more capital, according to analysis by The Information.
Despite generating about $2 billion in annual revenue from ChatGPT and another $1 billion in language model access fees, OpenAI's revenue is still not enough to cover soaring operating costs.
Source: weixin
The company is valued at more than $80 billion, and investors hope its revenue will more than double by 2025 amid growing corporate interest in its generative artificial intelligence tools.
OpenAI has raised more than $11 billion across seven rounds of funding and enjoys discounts on Microsoft Azure services. Still, the company is operating at capacity, with 290,000 of its 350,000 servers dedicated to ChatGPT.
OpenAI's financial woes have raised concerns about its ability to continue operating without additional funding. The company must secure more funding within the next 12 months to avoid bankruptcy.
Despite these challenges, OpenAI, under the leadership of CEO Sam Altman, will remain focused on advancing the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
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This article is reproduced with permission from: "Deep Wave TechFlow"
Original author: Heart of the Metaverse