ChatGPT's Live Web Searches Plummet After OpenAI Integration
SISTRIX has observed a significant reduction in ChatGPT's live web searches, particularly in anonymous sessions. This change follows OpenAI's integration of web search capabilities in ChatGPT between August and September 2021, which initially allowed real-time information access. However, the cause of this reduction remains unassigned.
SISTRIX's recent findings show that ChatGPT's reliance on web searches has decreased significantly. In daily checks over the past two weeks, the share of answers derived from web searches dropped from over 15% to below 2.5%. This reduction is notable, given that OpenAI had previously enabled web search capabilities in ChatGPT, including Bing-based web access.
The shift in ChatGPT's behaviour coincides with several key events. On August 11, 2021, Microsoft announced the retirement of Bing Search APIs. Then, between August 11 and September 16, OpenAI integrated web search capabilities into ChatGPT. OpenAI's release notes mention 'improvements to search in ChatGPT' on September 16, but do not specify the backend sourcing. Meanwhile, Google has updated its search parameters, no longer supporting the 'num=100' parameter and now returning only 10 results per request, potentially impacting data collection at scale.
ChatGPT's reduced live web searches, particularly in anonymous sessions, is a notable development following OpenAI's integration of web search capabilities. While the exact cause remains unclear, this change may reflect adjustments to ChatGPT's algorithms or user behaviour. As ChatGPT continues to evolve, its impact on data protection and privacy considerations will remain an important area to monitor.
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