What Is ChatGPT Search & How Does It Work?

What Is ChatGPT Search?

ChatGPT hunt is simply a ChatGPT characteristic that enhances the tool’s AI-generated responses by sourcing real-time accusation from the net and providing links to its sources.

This intends users tin get much accurate, up-to-date accusation and click done to applicable webpages if they’re willing successful learning more.

Here’s an illustration of a ChatGPT consequence pinch the hunt characteristic enabled:

When the hunt characteristic is disabled, ChatGPT is much apt to supply outdated aliases fabricated information. Because the chatbot relies connected fixed accusation it was trained on.

For instance, ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model has a knowledge cut-off day of October 2023. So, it whitethorn estimate aliases “hallucinate” (provide fabricated information) if you inquire astir events aft this date.

Here’s an illustration of a ChatGPT consequence pinch the hunt characteristic disabled:

ChatGPT Search vs. SearchGPT

ChatGPT hunt started retired arsenic an AI hunt motor prototype called SearchGPT.

OpenAI (the institution that developed and manages ChatGPT) introduced SearchGPT for testing connected July 25, 2024. And gave a constricted number of users entree to the tool.

On October 31, 2024, OpenAI announced that it would bring “the champion of the SearchGPT experience” into ChatGPT. 

Effectively, OpenAI replaced SearchGPT pinch ChatGPT search.

How Does ChatGPT Search Work?

ChatGPT hunt useful by retrieving accusation applicable to a user’s punctual from selected information sources, passing this accusation to ChatGPT’s ample connection exemplary (LLM), and parsing the accusation to make an due response.

OpenAI sources immoderate accusation from its ain scale (database of webpages).

The institution creates this scale by utilizing a web crawler called OAI-Searchbot to research the web. And past utilizing algorithms to find which pages should beryllium stored.

OpenAI tin besides root accusation from the Bing Search index, because the institution has a business pinch Microsoft. Bing’s main web crawler is called Bingbot.

OpenAI has besides collaborated pinch trusted news and information providers.

This allows ChatGPT to show up-to-date accusation from these sources. And usage typical designs for illustration this one:

How to Use ChatGPT Search

To usage ChatGPT search, sign into ChatGPT, click the globe icon, and participate your prompt.

Sometimes, ChatGPT searches the web automatically without you moreover clicking the globe icon. Because the instrumentality believes that real-time accusation will thief to reply the query.

When this happens, ChatGPT displays a “Searching the web” position earlier it provides a response.

You tin proceed your speech pinch ChatGPT aft receiving a response. 

For example, you tin inquire a follow-up mobility aliases petition that ChatGPT set its consequence successful immoderate way. And the instrumentality will return the erstwhile discourse into account.

ChatGPT Search vs. Google

ChatGPT hunt is an replacement to a accepted hunt motor for illustration Google, but some devices person strengths and weaknesses.

Generally, ChatGPT hunt is amended astatine providing instant answers.

Google tin supply instant answers done features for illustration AI Overviews. But these only look connected immoderate results pages, and you can’t inquire follow-up questions.

I for illustration ChatGPT Search because it provides a much nonstop reply than Google AI Overview results for me—especially erstwhile it comes to analyzable questions needing Google Sheet formulas and app scripts.

— Gary Kirwan, Organic Growth Consultant

That said, Google whitethorn beryllium amended than ChatGPT hunt astatine sourcing reliable information. Because its hunt algorithms are much mature than ChatGPT’s.

Much of what I've seen successful testing ChatGPT hunt is impressive, but immoderate of its answers punctual maine of the early days of Google. Results mention low-quality aliases obscure sites, images are taken from overseas sources, aliases hunt intent ends up being wholly misinterpreted.
Google has complete 2 decades of accumulated algorithm updates for handling everything from the astir widely-searched position to the astir esoteric separator cases.

— Cord Blomquist, Founder of Tallest Tree Digital

Google could besides beryllium the amended action if you request to find and sojourn a website. Because web results are much salient connected Google than they are connected ChatGPT search.

I do still person Google arsenic my superior hunt motor now aft trying retired ChatGPT arsenic my superior hunt engine. I do a batch of navigational, pronunciation check, and exploratory searches, and I find Google gives maine the UI results I want for those.

— Gary Kirwan

It’s worthy noting that our ain investigation comparing ChatGPT hunt vs. Google shows that Google is somewhat biased toward ranking larger domains. And that intends smaller websites whitethorn guidelines a amended chance of gaining visibility done ChatGPT search.

At the moment, Google Search remains acold much celebrated than ChatGPT. 

Traffic Analytics information shows that “google.com” gets 28x much postulation than “chatgpt.com”:

But ChatGPT’s personification guidelines is increasing arsenic much group go alert of the instrumentality and its functionality evolves.

How to Optimize for ChatGPT Search

Optimizing for ChatGPT hunt makes your website much apt to look arsenic a source, which tin thief you amended marque consciousness and get much postulation to your website.

This is an important information for anyone moving successful search motor optimization (SEO).

Here are 3 ways to optimize for ChatGPT search:

Create Content that Answers Highly Specific Questions

Creating contented geared toward answering highly circumstantial questions that are related to your business allows you to supply genuinely valuable contented that’s much apt to beryllium utilized arsenic a root successful ChatGPT search.

Users often inquire very circumstantial questions because ChatGPT hunt is conversational. And they tin participate follow-up prompts arsenic well.

So, your imaginable scope mightiness beryllium higher than you think.

Plus, users who inquire highly circumstantial questions thin to beryllium much engaged pinch the topic. 

This intends they whitethorn beryllium much apt to prosecute pinch your brand—and return the kinds of actions you want.

It’s not imaginable to spot what group hunt successful ChatGPT. But you tin see what group hunt for successful Google and usage this accusation to guideline you.

For example, present are immoderate Google hunt position recovered pinch the Keyword Magic Tool:

Optimize for Natural Language Processing

ChatGPT uses earthy connection processing (NLP) to understand written content, which intends optimizing for NLP increases the chance of ChatGPT hunt utilizing your contented arsenic a source.

Here are immoderate cardinal ways to optimize for earthy connection processing:

• Write intelligibly and concisely: Use clear and elemental penning that’s easy for NLP systems (and users) to process. Avoid analyzable condemnation structures, poetic language, etc.
• Implement schema markup: Schema markup is codification utilized to explanation different types of information connected a page. NLP systems whitethorn usage schema to amended understand your content—we cognize that Bing does.
• Mention applicable entities: Mention applicable entities (people, places, and things) and debar irrelevant entities to make your contented much semantically relevant

• Use subheadings effectively: Use descriptive subheadings to thief NLP systems place and understand topical shifts. This should besides thief users navigate your content.

If you request thief pinch your writing, see utilizing a instrumentality for illustration ContentShake AI.

Improve Your Reputation

Improving your website’s estimation whitethorn amended your visibility successful ChatGPT hunt because the instrumentality wants to usage reputable sources and supply trustworthy information.

It’s not clear really ChatGPT evaluates a website’s reputation. But these strategies mightiness boost your credibility:

• Create digital PR campaigns that get journalists talking astir your brand 
• Encourage customers to time off affirmative reviews connected third-party websites
• Use link building tactics to get different websites to nexus to your website
• List your business connected high-quality directories
• Maintain progressive profiles connected societal media platforms
• Use online estimation management strategies to antagonistic immoderate negativity astir your brand

You tin usage the Brand Monitoring app to way your brand’s online reputation. 

Stay Competitive successful a Changing Search Landscape

Gartner predicts that brands’ integrated hunt postulation will halve by 2028 arsenic consumers clasp generative AI-powered search.

Optimizing for ChatGPT hunt and akin devices now could springiness you a caput commencement complete competitors.

And Semrush has the devices you request to make the process easier.