OpenAI’s immense success in AI and new “temporary prototype” search tool prompts Microsoft to officially list the ChatGPT maker as a competitor

OpenAI's immense success in AI and new "temporary prototype" search tool prompts Microsoft to officially list the ChatGPT maker as a competitor

What you need to know

  • OpenAI is officially Microsoft’s rival in AI and search.
  • This further complicates their partnership, as both companies are heavily invested in similar fields.
  • OpenAI’s SearchGPT tool could give Microsoft’s Bing a run for its money in search.

As a seasoned researcher with over two decades of experience in tech, I have witnessed the rise and fall of many giants. The latest development between Microsoft and OpenAI is reminiscent of David vs. Goliath, albeit both are titans in their own right.


In the previous month, Microsoft wrapped up its fiscal year 2024. The corporation announced a total revenue of $64.7 billion for the month, bringing their annual earnings to $245.1 billion. Moreover, all divisions demonstrated growth trends in the FY24 Q4 earnings report.

After reading the report, investors expressed worries about Microsoft’s high spending on AI initiatives, which may not always lead to increased profits. Additionally, Microsoft appears to be moving towards a greater emphasis on cybersecurity following criticism for multiple security mishaps. CEO Satya Nadella has recently emphasized that security is of utmost importance as it forms the foundation across all technology layers within the company.

From my perspective as a tech enthusiast with years of experience in the industry, I find Microsoft’s decision to list OpenAI as a competitor in search and advertising quite intriguing. Having closely followed the development of both companies, I can see how their partnership could potentially be complex, given Microsoft’s significant investment in ChatGPT’s parent company and the widespread integration of OpenAI’s AI technology across Microsoft’s product lineup.

SearchGPT could give Bing and Google a run for their money

OpenAI's immense success in AI and new "temporary prototype" search tool prompts Microsoft to officially list the ChatGPT maker as a competitor

It’s clear that both OpenAI and Microsoft are intensifying their efforts to capture a significant portion of the growing AI market, with an increasing number of businesses adopting AI technology to streamline their operations.

As an onlooker, I’ve noticed the unveiling of OpenAI’s provisional Search tool, called SearchGPT. Although it’s currently only accessible to a restricted number of users, it’s sparking worries among the search industry heavyweights. With its potential to challenge Google, SearchGPT seems particularly formidable, especially in light of the antitrust decision that labeled Google as a monopolist in search.

As a researcher, I find myself echoing the sentiments of a former Google engineer who posits that Google has more pressing concerns than the antitrust ruling and impending regulation, particularly in light of the emergence of OpenAI’s SearchGPT. The engineer suggests that this development is a more immediate challenge for Google to tackle if it intends to maintain its leadership position in the industry. Given Google’s history of legal battles, it’s likely they will appeal the court’s decision, delaying the implementation of regulation. However, the potential impact of OpenAI’s new offering on Google’s market dominance cannot be overlooked and requires immediate attention.

Gmail Creator Paul Buchheit says Google missed its opportunity with AI to maintain its search dominance, despite its vast resources, including talent, funding, and more. Its recent failure with the Google AI Overviews feature recommending eating rocks and committing suicide doesn’t help its case.

Microsoft’s Bing service has been gradually increasing its user base, counting approximately 140 million daily users in April. The corporation credits this significant success and expansion of the platform largely to artificial intelligence. Yet, it appears that users tend to favor Google, the globally recognized search engine leader.

Apple has made it clear that no amount of money Microsoft could offer would convince them to abandon Google, not even if they provided Bing for free. Previously, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, hinted that his company was ready to spend up to $15 billion to secure a similar deal, which he described as a “potentially transformative opportunity.” Apple’s primary objection is the perceived lower quality of Bing’s search results compared to Google.

On Apple devices, Google is the predominant search engine, with a significant financial commitment of approximately $26 billion to keep that status. The potential influence of SearchGPT in altering this dynamic could be noteworthy, provided it learns from any mistakes made by Google and Microsoft in the future.

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2024-08-14 15:13