Improving ChatGPT’s Web Search Capabilities for Shopping

OpenAI is enhancing ChatGPT’s web search capabilities to make the AI chatbot a more useful tool for shopping. People already use ChatGPT to research products, but the updates aim to provide more useful results, including up-to-date prices and visual images.

Current Limitations and Updates

Before these updates, ChatGPT didn’t make it easy to understand current prices or see images of the results. According to Adam Fry, OpenAI’s ChatGPT search product lead, a shopping query might now pull up a more useful result that includes things like product cards with images, prices, and star ratings in an easy-to-read format. The recommendations are organic, with no ads and no sponsored results.

How it Works

OpenAI works with partners to ensure ChatGPT is showing up-to-date prices, although the company declined to share who the partners are. In a demo, Fry showed how ChatGPT can pull up three top picks with product cards and spell out details about its picks in text under those cards. For example, with the query "best espresso machines under $200 that are great for making lattes and nice for small counter space," ChatGPT provided a list of top picks with product cards and details.

Product Details and Reviews

If you click on a product card, a Google Shopping-like sidebar will pop up with more details on places you can buy the product and information pulled from user reviews across sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and Reddit. The cards can also show a button to "Ask about this," and if you click it, you can ask ChatGPT a specific question about that product.

Similarities to Google Shopping

The sidebar’s similarity to Google Shopping is intentional, as OpenAI wants the experience to look like ChatGPT while incorporating structured information that people are familiar with. Fry said that while the company wants the experience to be unique, it also knows that people like to see prices and images in a way that is easy to understand.

Handling Pre-Orders and New Products

However, the results for products that are not yet available, such as the Nintendo Switch 2, may not be as accurate. ChatGPT acknowledged that retailers have experienced "rapid sellouts" but provided some questionable results, including a $710 listing on eBay and a platform that is not well-known. This highlights the importance of double-checking the results provided by ChatGPT.

Availability and Future Updates

The shopping updates will start rolling out today to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Free, and logged-out users. OpenAI initially released its search engine within ChatGPT in October and has seen 1 billion web searches on ChatGPT in the last week. As the company continues to improve its search capabilities, we can expect to see more updates and enhancements in the future.

Conclusion

The updates to ChatGPT’s web search capabilities are a significant improvement for users who want to research and shop for products online. With its ability to provide up-to-date prices, visual images, and product reviews, ChatGPT is becoming a more useful tool for shopping. While there may be some limitations and inaccuracies, the company’s commitment to improving its search engine is a positive step forward. As ChatGPT continues to evolve, we can expect to see more features and enhancements that make it an even more valuable resource for online shopping.