ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot that can converse with humans on various topics, such as sports, entertainment, politics, and more. ChatGPT uses a deep neural network called GPT-4, which is trained on a large corpus of text from the internet. ChatGPT can generate coherent and engaging responses, as well as creative content such as poems, stories, jokes, and songs.
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What is the Internet Browsing Feature?
The internet browsing feature is a new capability that allows ChatGPT to access current and authoritative information from the web, using Bing as the search engine. The feature was first introduced in May 2023 but was later paused and re-launched three weeks ago.
The feature is now out of beta and officially available to all Plus and Enterprise subscribers of ChatGPT. The internet browsing feature enables ChatGPT to deliver up-to-date and authoritative information, as well as direct links to online sources, going beyond data accessible before September 2021.
For example, if a user asks ChatGPT about the latest news on a certain topic, ChatGPT can use the internet browsing feature to search for relevant articles and provide a summary and a link to the original source.
OpenAI wrote on X, “ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources. It is no longer limited to data before September 2021.”:
ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources. It is no longer limited to data before September 2021. pic.twitter.com/pyj8a9HWkB
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 27, 2023
How to Use the Internet Browsing Feature?
To use the internet browsing feature, users need to select GPT-4 as the model and choose “Browse with Bing” from the drop-down menu in the ChatGPT app. Users can then ask ChatGPT any question or request any information that they would normally search on the web.
ChatGPT will use Bing to find the best results and present them in a conversational manner. For example, if a user asks ChatGPT “Who is the president of France?”, ChatGPT will respond with something like:
“The president of France is Emmanuel Macron. He has been in office since May 14, 2017. He is the youngest president in the history of France. He is also the leader of the political party La République En Marche! (The Republic on the Move!).”
Why is the Internet Browsing Feature Important?
The internet browsing feature is important because it enhances ChatGPT’s utility as an assistant, particularly for research purposes. Users can leverage ChatGPT’s natural language understanding and generation skills to obtain accurate and relevant information from the web, without having to switch between different apps or websites.
Users can also benefit from ChatGPT’s creativity and personality, which can make the interaction more enjoyable and engaging. The internet browsing feature is also important because it demonstrates the collaboration between OpenAI and Microsoft, which are both leading companies in the field of artificial intelligence.
By integrating Bing with ChatGPT, OpenAI and Microsoft are showing their commitment to advancing AI research and development, as well as providing innovative solutions for users.
What Are Some of the Challenges and Limitations of the Internet Browsing Feature?
The Internet browsing feature is not without challenges and limitations. One of the main challenges is ensuring the factual accuracy and reliability of the information that ChatGPT provides. Since ChatGPT relies on Bing to find the best results, it may sometimes encounter outdated, inaccurate, or biased sources.
ChatGPT may also generate incorrect or misleading responses based on incomplete or ambiguous information. Another challenge is dealing with ethical and legal issues related to web content. For example, ChatGPT may encounter paywalled, copyrighted, or sensitive content that may not be appropriate or permissible to display or share.
ChatGPT may also face ethical dilemmas when responding to controversial or sensitive topics that may involve personal opinions or values. A third challenge is maintaining user privacy and security. Since ChatGPT uses Bing to access web content, it may collect and store user data such as search queries, preferences, and feedback.
This data may be used to improve ChatGPT’s performance and functionality, but it may also pose risks of data breaches or misuse. Users need to be aware of how their data is collected, stored, and used by ChatGPT and Bing.
What Are the Future Prospects of Browsing?
Browsing is a significant step forward for ChatGPT and generative AI in general. It demonstrates how AI models can leverage online information to enhance their capabilities and performance. It also opens up new possibilities and applications for ChatGPT as an assistant, such as education, entertainment, journalism, and more.
However, Browsing is not the end goal of OpenAI or ChatGPT. OpenAI is constantly working on improving and expanding its AI models and features. For example, OpenAI is developing a highly accurate image detection tool that can identify images generated by artificial intelligence.
The tool has an accuracy rate of 99% and is currently undergoing internal testing. OpenAI plans to release it publicly in the future. ChatGPT is also evolving and learning from its interactions with users and the web.
It may soon be able to generate images and other types of media in response to user requests. It may also be able to search other sources besides Bing, such as social media platforms or databases.
Browsing is just one of the many features that make ChatGPT a powerful and versatile chatbot. It shows how AI can benefit from the vast amount of information available on the internet, while also posing new challenges and opportunities for AI development and ethics.
