ChatGPT Search is now free for all users, marking a significant move by OpenAI to challenge the search engine landscape dominated by Google. This update makes the AI-powered tool accessible to free-tier users on both desktop and mobile, bringing smarter, faster, and more conversational search capabilities to a broader audience.

What’s new?
ChatGPT Search merges AI with real-time web search, delivering clear, natural-language answers rather than a list of links. Enhanced features include a mobile-friendly design for location-based queries, such as finding restaurants or attractions, complete with images, ratings, and maps—all accessible directly within the app.

Additionally, Advanced Voice Mode allows users to ask spoken questions and receive timely, web-based responses, ideal for real-time needs like directions or public transit schedules. Faster performance and contextual search improvements also ensure users can access trusted sources quickly while still receiving detailed explanations.

OpenAI has emphasized collaboration with publishers like Reuters, Financial Times, and Associated Press to address concerns about content attribution and transparency. Answers include direct links to original sources, supporting journalism while providing users with high-quality information.

This significant update showcases OpenAI’s ambitions to reshape how we search for and consume information, highlighting the growing competition with Google in the evolving AI-driven digital landscape.

This summary is based on the article 'ChatGPT Search Is Now Free: Can It Replace Google?' originally published at JustAINews on December 17, 2024, written by Genaro Palma.