The digital landscape is always evolving, and a major development currently trending in the search market is the announcement of the artificial intelligence-powered search product- SearchGPT by OpenAI.
As digital marketers, we must analyze this innovation and its potential impact on well-funded AI search startups like Perplexity and search king Google. So, let us move ahead and explore the nuances of SearchGPT and what it could mean for the future of search engines and digital marketing.
Introducing SearchGPT
SearchGPT is an AI-powered search engine with real-time access to information across the internet. It is designed to use the capabilities of GPT-4 to enhance the search engine experience (how users query and receive information). This advanced AI model is scheduled for launch later this year and aims to provide more conversational and contextually aware search results than traditional search engines.
“SearchGPT is just a “prototype” for now that will only be available to 10,000 test users at launch,” says OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood. She also says that OpenAI is working with third-party partners and using direct content feeds to improve their search results. Instead of making SearchGPT a standalone product, OpenAI ultimately plans to incorporate the best search features from the search tool directly into ChatGPT.
This development is significant because it could shake up the current search engine scene. But the question is, if Search GPT works as promised, will it end Google’s long-standing dominance in the online search market? Will it put OpenAI in more direct competition with Perplexity? Continue reading the blog to know!
Can SearchGPT Compete with Google’s Legacy?
As SearchGPT makes its debut, many wonder if it can compete with Google’s long-standing dominance and challenge Perplexity. We need to take a closer look at current user behavior, market trends and the challenges faced by new search technologies to find this out.
Check out the points below to know our take on whether SearchGPT can compete with Google and other competitors like Perplexity.
Google’s Strong Market Presence
Understanding user behavior is crucial when evaluating the impact of Search GPT. Currently, search habits vary significantly across different demographics and regions. For people working in the non-IT domains and less developed nations, google is synonymous with the internet itself.
In other words, despite the growing presence of GPTs in the tech world, the general public is not very familiar with these tools, and the majority of users rely on traditional search engines. This deep-rooted habit makes Google seem unbeatable with 91.05% shares in the search engine market as of June.
User Resistance to AI-Driven Search Solutions
Although user behavior or people’s search habits are slowly changing as AI technologies like ChatGPT gain popularity, changing the already established habits by transitioning to AI-driven search interfaces like those powered by GPT technology is a significant challenge. Simply put, SearchGPT might face a long road to attracting users because it is hard to shift deep-seated routines.
Google’s Continued Relevance
We can expect an initial shift in traffic towards SearchGPT after its launch. But even if SearchGPT becomes successful and popular, people might use it primarily to ask questions and look up general information while still using Google for other things, like navigating maps, looking for items for sale online, learning new skills, etc.
User Feedback and Industry Skepticism
Many users who tried SearchGPT found it to be very similar to Perplexity. Some industry observers have also noted minimal differences between the two. This has led us to wonder how SearchGPT could potentially outshine Google if Perplexity, which faces similar challenges, failed to do so.
All the above points clearly prove that it is uncertain whether SearchGPT will really compete with Google and Perplexity. Whatever the case will be, this shift could affect businesses, especially small publishers, by impacting traffic and visibility. Therefore, companies must adapt to the changing search landscape and develop strategies accordingly to stay visible and maintain online engagement.
How SearchGPT Could Win Users Over
A common complaint about Google is the number of sponsored results that show up in the searches. Many users often express frustration over ads cluttering their search results and making it harder for them to find what they are looking for. In addition, it is often easier to get top search rankings on Google through paid Google ads. It leads to biases in search results that many find unfair and off-putting.
This dissatisfaction is like an opportunity for SearchGPT to stand out and differentiate itself by offering a more organic and user-centric search experience. Now, if we talk about a potential challenge for SearchGPT, it is getting people used to new technology and helping them trust and adapt to a different way of finding information.
Offering simple and easy-to-follow instructions and showing why SearchGPT is better than traditional search engines are the only ways for OpenAI to make this transition easy and successful. Moreover, if SearchGPT can effectively address the concerns users have with Google search, it may attract users who are fed up with the ad-heavy results and want to experience new search technologies.
Why Google’s Search Dominance is Likely to Continue
Despite the new competition from SearchGPT, many industry observers feel that Google is likely to enhance its search algorithms, maintain its strong position in the search market and retain its user base, at least for the next few years. The reason is Google’s ability to adapt and innovate its search engine to meet user needs and deliver relevant and accurate search results
OpenAI, on the other hand, faces several challenges, including the high costs associated with running advanced AI technologies and sustaining investor interest. Although the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 helped OpenAI gain millions of users, the free version of ChatGPT also piled up costs. OpenAI’s expenses for training and running its AI could hit $7 billion this year, and the AI company is under pressure to expand its user base.
Many industry experts think that OpenAI’s announcement of SearchGPT might be a part of a strategy to keep investors optimistic and show them that SearchGPT could eventually compete with Google even though it is unclear how successful this will be.
Final Thoughts
The introduction of SearchGPT could impact how people search for information online and how SEO (search engine optimization) works. Over the next 8-10 years, we might see significant developments in the search landscape.
While SearchGPT could shake things up, Google is likely to maintain its dominance due to its established systems and user loyalty. As digital marketers, staying informed, flexible and adaptable is the key to navigating these changes and making the most of new opportunities.
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