Presumably as an addition to its ChatGPT service, OpenAI appears to be getting ready to launch an AI-powered search tool. The announcement is scheduled for Monday. While there has been some debate on the timing in light of Google's impending I/O conference, it seems that OpenAI is primarily interested in showcasing enhancements to its existing models, such as ChatGPT and GPT-4.

The new search product aims to enhance ChatGPT's capability to fetch information directly from the web and provide citations. This move puts OpenAI in direct competition with Google's search engine, as well as with startup Perplexity, which has gained traction in the AI search space.

OpenAI's ChatGPT has seen significant user growth since its launch, but it has faced challenges in providing accurate and real-time information from the web. The integration with Microsoft's Bing was one attempt to address this issue, but it seems OpenAI is now doubling down on developing its own search capabilities.

It's worth noting that OpenAI's previous attempt to bring real-world information into ChatGPT through ChatGPT plugins was retired in April, suggesting a shift in strategy towards a more integrated solution.

Overall, OpenAI's move into the search space signals its ambition to expand beyond chatbots and into broader AI applications, potentially disrupting the dominance of established players like Google.