OpenAI will start using Bing as the default search experience for ChatGPT. The new option will begin to be available from this Tuesday for ChatGPT Plus usersreported Microsoft in its Blog. Soon the option will be enabled for free via a plugin (plugins).
“Our fantastic partnership with OpenAI is critical to our progress with the new Bing,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of consumer marketing. “ChatGPT will now have a world-class search engine integrated to provide more timely and up-to-date answers with access from the web”
In practice, it means that ChatGPT responses can now be based on recent web data and searches. It will also include citations so users can learn more. All this directly from the chat. It is similar to the experience that Bing already provided thanks to its integration with GPT-4.
ChatGPT responses were originally limited to information collected up to September 2021. The new integration is another result of the multi-million dollar collaboration agreement that Microsoft closed with OpenAI earlier this year.
ChatGPT integrated with Bing and other plugins
Microsoft also confirmed that Bing will be able to use the same plugins as ChatGPT in the future. Developers will be able to use one platform to create and send plugins that work both in commercial products and those aimed at common users. This includes ChatGPT, Bing, Dynamics 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Windows Copilot.
As part of this shared plugin platform, Bing will be adding Expedia, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Redfin, TripAdvisor and Zillow to its ecosystem, in addition to OpenTable and Wolfram Alpha. With these plugins integrated directly into your chatbot, Bing will be able to make relevant recommendations based on conversations with users.
For example, you can take advantage of the plugins OpenTable to ask about restaurants or related topics. “This gets even more powerful on mobile when you’re on the go with the Bing mobile app,” the company said.
With instacart, for example, soon it will be possible to take the menu of the planned dinner thanks to the Bing chatbot, turn it into a shopping list and place the order through a virtual store. Microsoft also highlighted the ability to attend a “conversational travel planning” experience through Expedia or TripAdvisor.
All of these options will be visible in Bing chat or the Edge sidebar, both on desktop and mobile, in the coming weeks.