Just like Google Bard, ChatGPT can now browse the internet

Following an earlier attempt that was shortlived, generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, has regained real-time internet browsing capabilities, thanks to a collaboration with Microsoft Bing.

The addition of the new feature called "Browse with Bing" means that ChatGPT's over 100 million unique users will now get more insightful and real-time responses to their prompts as the AI chatbot can now scour the web for live information.

Now, ChatGPT is on par with existing offerings like Google's Bard, Microsoft's Bing Chat on Windows, Microsoft's Edge browser, and various third-party browser plugins.

Until this update, ChatGPT could only access data within the scope of its knowledge base which was limited up to September 2021. But now, with this new ability to tap into the entire internet, ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscribers will receive current internet updates in their responses, even providing citation links for added transparency. OpenAI promises it will expand this capability to all users soon.

Beyond this new addition, OpenAI has thoughtfully addressed concerns related to website interactions. Websites can now exert control over how ChatGPT interacts with their content, enhancing privacy and security.

It is worth remembering that the initial rollout in late June was short-lived due to users exploiting the feature to bypass paywalls, leading to its revocation in July. However, it appears that OpenAI has resolved these issues with the latest update, ensuring responsible and ethical use.

In another development, OpenAI recently equipped ChatGPT with a voice, signalling its readiness to engage in verbal interactions with users. Again this is not unlike what we've seen before as other AI chatbot iterations have donned this capability for a while.

As ChatGPT its capabilities, the transformation promises a more immersive and dynamic user experience, cementing ChatGPT's role as a powerful AI companion.