You can now use ChatGPT Search without signing up

OpenAI, the company behind AI wonder ChatGPT, is finally opening up ChatGPT Search for everyone, even if you don’t into your ChatGPT account.

The Microsoft-backed tech giant, which is at the center of the $500 billion ambitious Stargate AI project, made the announcement public recently.

ChatGPT Search lets you get real-time information directly from the web. So, unlike the traditional ChatGPT, which had a knowledge cut-off at certain dates, this feature fetches current data, allowing users to access the latest news, sports scores, and event updates.

It also gives you cited sources and displays those links to news articles, blogs, and verified sources at the bottom of its responses.

Only back in December 2024 when OpenAI expand ChatGPT Search to free users, a feature that was previously exclusive to paying subscribers in the Pro or Plus tiers. At that time, the company also launched its hotly-anticipated text-to-video AI, Sora, and said that it was integrating maps into its mobile apps.

There’s a massive race to become the best AI-powered search engine, and while ChatGPT is in the lead, a lot of competitors are keeping up.

Perplexity AI, the popular AI search engine, has recently tapped the surging Chinese model DeepSeek R1 into its product. It may also be Perplexity’s default, as CEO Aravind Srinivas recently tested the water for it.

But, unlike the original open source model that’s hosted in China and is heavily censored about the Chinese government, DeepSeek R1 on Perplexity AI is completely uncensored and hosted in the US.