OpenAI has introduced an innovative feature aimed at enhancing the management of your ChatGPT chat history: a search function specifically for the web app. This new tool enables users to effortlessly access prior conversations and references, making it simpler to cite information during ongoing discussions within ChatGPT.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the company revealed, “We’re beginning to roll out the ability to search through your chat history on ChatGPT web. Now you can quickly and easily retrieve a chat for reference or continue a conversation right where you left off.”
The rollout of this feature is happening gradually, with ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers expected to have full access by the end of Tuesday. Enterprise and Edu users will receive it by the following Tuesday, while those using the free version will have to wait a bit longer, with the feature becoming available within the next month.
It’s important to note that this history search feature is separate from the SearchGPT prototype launched in July. SearchGPT is intended to merge the capabilities of OpenAI’s AI models with web-based information, providing swift and relevant answers supported by clear sources. This differs from Google’s AI Overview, which focuses on summarizing search results. Instead, SearchGPT delivers timely responses to questions using current information from the web, complete with links to pertinent sources.
The search functionality for chats was first identified by developers in late August under the codename “Fanny Pack Chat Sidebar.” Tibor Blaho, an engineering lead at AIPRM, confirmed the feature’s development and pointed out that the integration with SearchGPT now introduces a new feature flag labeled “search tool,” which will replace “Web Browsing” with “Web Search” in custom GPTs.
Given the recent legal issues surrounding the startup Perplexity, including accusations of plagiarism and a lawsuit from News Corp concerning large-scale copyright violations, OpenAI’s choice to launch this feature prompts questions about its stance on intellectual property, especially considering earlier arguments against the use of copyrighted material without payment.