OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, has announced that the chatbot can now browse the internet to provide users with current information. Previously, ChatGPT relied on data only up to September 2021 and was unable to offer real-time information.
However, OpenAI revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that a new update enables ChatGPT to surpass the September 2021 cutoff and access up-to-date information from the internet. Initially available to paid users, the “Browse with Bing” option will soon expand to all users.
OpenAI had previously tested a similar feature that allowed users to access the latest information through the Bing search engine within the premium ChatGPT Plus offering. However, this feature was temporarily disabled due to concerns that it could potentially enable users to bypass paywalls.
The integration of the new browsing capability in ChatGPT is reminiscent of Bard, a chatbot developed by Google and launched in March of this year. OpenAI’s move is seen as an attempt to compete in the market share dominated by Google.
However, privacy concerns have been raised regarding real-time information access. There are risks associated with the bot encountering harmful material, misinformation, and copyrighted content online, which it could potentially display to users.
To enable the browsing plugin to work, users must allow their chat history and personal data to be shared with the model. This has led to concerns about potential data scraping and leakage of private information. The lack of transparency about the data sources of these companies further fuels these concerns.
OpenAI has stated that the latest feature provides websites with control over how ChatGPT can interact with them. However, critics argue that the chatbot can still display hallucinations, misinformation, and inaccurate information.
They point out that AI tools and search engines often perpetuate racial and gender biases, as highlighted by research such as Safiya Noble’s book “Algorithms of Oppression.” This research demonstrates the disparities in search engine results for queries about Black women and white women, exposing the underlying racism and sexism within the algorithms.
Recently, OpenAI introduced voice and image features to ChatGPT, which garnered mixed reactions online. While some users celebrated the updates, others expressed concerns about AI becoming too human-like.
Some also raised issues about potential adverse effects on smaller AI startups and software engineers. Additionally, there were those who discouraged the use of ChatGPT altogether, citing recent lawsuits against OpenAI for copyright violations and infringement of intellectual property rights.
The evolution of ChatGPT’s capabilities with internet browsing signifies a significant advancement in its functionality, but it also raises important considerations regarding privacy, data security, bias, and the responsible use of AI technology.
Source: Aljazeera
1 thought on “Chat GPT Can Now Browse The Internet: No Longer Limited To Data before September 2021”