OpenAI has opened up internet browsing access to select users of its popular ChatGPT chatbot, allowing the AI to search the web for up-to-date information. This “Browse” feature provides paying subscribers of ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise access beyond the AI’s original training data that ended in 2021. 

While expanding the AI’s knowledge could improve its capabilities, ethical concerns have been raised around letting ChatGPT freely access the internet’s unfiltered content. OpenAI claims they have installed adequate ethical constraints, but it remains to be seen if the AI can resist problematic content.

Microsoft Partnership Enables Web Browsing  

ChatGPT’s browsing abilities stem from its integration into Microsoft’s Bing search engine, available to paying ChatGPT customers. This partnership also enabled new speech recognition features in ChatGPT, allowing users to talk to the AI.

Image capabilities have also been added, with ChatGPT able to comprehend and respond to visual information. However, early tests show the AI still struggles interpreting people and social dynamics in images. In addition, you can also read an article on- ChatGPT Traffic Declines: Is the AI Chatbot Losing Its Edge?

Rapid Feature Expansions Continue

With AI competition heating up, OpenAI continues expanding ChatGPT’s capabilities at a rapid pace. A developer version of ChatGPT is slated to receive memory and vision upgrades in November.

More announcements are expected at OpenAI’s upcoming conference, as they race to stay ahead of rival AI systems. While impressive, the pace of development raises further questions around responsible AI practices. 

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