ChatGPT can now browse the internet in real-time, no longer limited to data before 2021

The moment many ChatGPT users have been waiting for has finally arrived. OpenAI said on Wednesday that ChatGPT users will now be able to browse the internet and search the web for current information taken directly from “current and authoritative” sources.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI said it is expanding ChatGPT’s data access capabilities beyond its previous knowledge cutoff date in September 2021. The Microsoft-backed startup said its latest browsing feature, called Browse with Bing, would allow websites to exert control over ChatGPT’s interactions with their content.

OpenAI has introduced a new capability that enables ChatGPT to browse the internet and search for up-to-date information directly from reliable sources, as disclosed by OpenAI on Wednesday.

“ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources. It is no longer limited to data before September 2021.”

ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources. It is no longer limited to data before September 2021. pic.twitter.com/pyj8a9HWkB

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 27, 2023

In a communication posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), OpenAI, with backing from Microsoft, announced its expansion of ChatGPT’s data access capabilities, extending beyond its previous knowledge cutoff date in September 2021. OpenAI has labeled this latest feature as “Browse with Bing,” emphasizing that websites can exert control over ChatGPT’s interactions with their content.

For now, the feature is only open to those with Plus and Enterprise subscriptions, but the company says it plans to roll out the feature “to all users soon.”

“Browsing is available to Plus and Enterprise users today, and we’ll expand to all users soon. To enable, choose Browse with Bing in the selector under GPT-4,” OpenAI said on X.

Browsing is available to Plus and Enterprise users today, and we’ll expand to all users soon. To enable, choose Browse with Bing in the selector under GPT-4.

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 27, 2023

The announcement comes just two months after OpenAI pulled the plug on its web-browsing feature, citing ChatGPT users abuse. “We have learned that the ChatGPT Browse beta can occasionally display content in ways we don’t want,” OpenAI said in a post.

This is OpenAI’s second major update in the last forty-eight hours. Two days ago, OpenAI also announced it was rolling out a new set of voice and image capabilities for ChatGPT.  The enhancement includes a fresh and more user-friendly interface, empowering ChatGPT to engage in voice conversations with users and interact through images. The new capabilities also bring ChatGPT one step closer to the likes of well-known AI assistants such as Apple’s Siri.