OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus App Enables Bing Search
OpenAI has unveiled a new feature for the premium version of its AI chatbot, ChatGPT Plus, enabling users to use Bing to answer queries. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, the “Browsing” function can be activated through the app settings under “New Features.”
Bridging the Gap in Information Accessibility
The browsing capability substantially augments ChatGPT’s knowledge. Specifically, this assists in bridging the information gap when dealing with current events and other topics that go beyond the AI chatbot’s initial scope of training data which only goes up to 2021.
Previously, due to this restricted dataset, users couldn’t get answers to questions about events or information post-2021. However, this feature utilizes Bing’s algorithms to access real-time information.
This limited availability to Bing might come as a disappointment for those users who prefer or are used to other search engines like Google. This restriction could affect user satisfaction, given that Bing might not meet all user preferences or search needs.
Microsoft’s Influence on Feature Integration
The browsing feature was anticipated from previous announcements by Microsoft, and OpenAI, planned for introduction later this year. Given that Microsoft has invested over $10 billion into OpenAI already, it’s understandable why Bing was given exclusivity over other search options.
Updates rolling out this week include another user-friendly update: users can now tap on a search result and be navigated directly to the relevant conversation point.
Simplicity Reigns in Interface Design
Underpinning hundreds of interface iterations was the design team’s commitment to maintaining simplicity; their guiding principle was to avoid complexity. The resulting design is an unadorned interface that mirrors traditional chat applications.
This simplicity apparently struck a chord with users as within two months following its November 2022 launch, the platform witnessed an impressive growth rate reaching an active monthly user base of 100 million.
Bing Connection – A Boon for Premium Users
Subscribers to ChatGPT Plus will benefit significantly from the new feature that allows access to more current information via Bing Search. This is limited to paid subscribers on the premium Plus tier.
Further marking OpenAI’s bonding with Microsoft is the fact that ChatGPT is already integrated into the Microsoft Edge browser as part of Bing Search for the Web.
OpenAI launched the iPhone version of ChatGPT, aiming at an easy-to-access and comprehend interface design to avoid confusion among first-time technology adopters.
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, giving subscribers easier access during peak times, faster response times, and early access to new features.
OpenAI has launched a significant update to its chatbot application, the ChatGPT for iOS. The most notable addition being the integration of Microsoft’s Bing search engine, that will notably improve the chatbot’s browsing experience and capabilities.
Integration with Bing
Microsoft reportedly announced the decision to integrate Bing into ChatGTP at Build 2023. Recent updates have seen OpenAI look to significantly enhance ChatGPT’s user experience by giving it browsing capabilities to access current information from the web. Known as ‘Browse with Bing’, this new feature is currently reserved only for those with a premium subscription to ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month.
GPT-4 Vs Bing
Before this upgrade, the application was powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 model. Although GPT-4 offers impressive language processing capabilities, one major limitation is that it only holds information up until September 2021 and is unable to offer insights on events or incidents after this date. This makes the recent partnership with Microsoft and the integration of Bing a significant move forward in making the platform more resourceful and capable of providing timely responses based on up-to-date web data.
Leveraging the New Experience
To access this new feature, users need to run the latest version of ChatGPT on their device (v1.2023.173) and then navigate through to app settings. Here they can enable the ‘Browsing’ option under ‘New Features’, select GPT-4 in the model switcher, and lastly opt for ‘Browse with Bing’ from the available options.
Additionally, this update brings other enhancements, like improved search history features where tapping on any search result will take directly back to that point in your conversation.
Providing Advanced Capabilities
This integration allows ChatGPT Plus users to leverage ‘Browsing’ features that provide comprehensive responses and current insights on events that extend beyond model’s initial set of training data.
Despite some minor disappointments, such as lack of support for other search engines other than Bing – likely due to Microsoft’s substantial investment into OpenAI – this significant upgrade is expected to considerably improve user experience especially for paid subscribers.
Additionally, OpenAI has made an API available so those utilizing PC’s running on Windows 3.1 can tap into ChatGPT’s capabilities; however, proxy machines are necessary as WinGPT operates via OpenAI’s APIs.
While all these updates are currently limited to iOS users alone, OpenAI promises an AI Android app soon.