OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has boldly declared that the company’s latest update to ChatGPT-4o makes it the “best search product on the web,” signaling OpenAI’s aggressive push into the search market dominated by Google. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Altman praised the chatbot’s capabilities, stating it is “pretty good” and “soon going to get much better.”
The GPT-4o model, with the “o” standing for “omni,” was initially released in May 2024 and impressed users with its multimodal capabilities—handling text, audio, and images as both inputs and outputs. OpenAI recently highlighted the model’s enhanced performance, touting its “smarter model” that delivers “more relevant, current, and contextually accurate responses, especially for questions involving cultural and social trends.”
Altman’s comments came during a playful exchange with Aravind Srinivas, founder and CEO of Perplexity, a search-focused AI startup and direct competitor to OpenAI. Srinivas, who previously worked at OpenAI, questioned Altman about the update, prompting Altman to emphasize that “among many other things, it’s the best search product on the web” and encouraged Srinivas to “check it out.” When Srinivas mentioned his company had just released a deep research agent, Altman responded encouragingly, telling him to “keep cooking out there” and expressing pride in his former colleague’s work.
It remains unclear whether Altman was referring to a brand new ChatGPT-4o update or the one OpenAI announced on January 29. OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the specific update details.
The competitive banter between the two AI leaders underscores the intensifying battle for search market dominance in the AI era. According to research from Evercore ISI, ChatGPT’s search market share rose significantly from June to November 2024, directly challenging Google’s long-standing dominance in the lucrative search space. This growth represents a significant shift in how users access information online, with AI-powered conversational search increasingly competing with traditional search engines.
Users have praised ChatGPT-4o’s writing capabilities as “unbelievably good” and “human-like,” which Altman retweeted, further emphasizing the model’s advanced natural language processing abilities. The combination of improved search functionality, multimodal capabilities, and human-like responses positions ChatGPT-4o as a formidable competitor in the evolving search landscape.
Key Quotes
among many other things, it’s the best search product on the web
Sam Altman made this bold claim about ChatGPT-4o during an exchange with Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas on X, directly positioning OpenAI’s chatbot as superior to all existing search products, including Google.
pretty good and is soon going to get much better
Altman’s assessment of ChatGPT-4o’s current state suggests OpenAI has significant improvements planned, indicating the company’s commitment to rapidly advancing its search capabilities.
more relevant, current, and contextually accurate responses, especially for questions involving cultural and social trends
OpenAI’s official description of the GPT-4o update highlights the model’s enhanced ability to understand and respond to contemporary topics, a crucial capability for competing with traditional search engines.
Our Take
Altman’s proclamation represents more than typical CEO bravado—it’s a strategic signal that OpenAI views search as a core battleground. The timing is significant, coming as ChatGPT demonstrates measurable market share gains against Google. The playful exchange with Perplexity’s Srinivas reveals the complex dynamics in AI: intense competition coexisting with mutual respect among industry leaders. What’s particularly noteworthy is OpenAI’s focus on contextual understanding and cultural relevance, suggesting they’re not just replicating traditional search but reimagining it. The multimodal capabilities of GPT-4o—processing text, audio, and images—offer a fundamentally different search experience than keyword-based queries. However, challenges remain around accuracy, hallucinations, and monetization. Google’s entrenched position, vast data resources, and advertising infrastructure won’t be easily displaced. This competition will likely accelerate innovation across the industry, ultimately benefiting users with more sophisticated information retrieval tools.
Why This Matters
This development marks a pivotal moment in the search engine wars, as OpenAI directly challenges Google’s decades-long monopoly on web search. With ChatGPT’s market share already growing substantially in 2024, the AI-powered search paradigm threatens to disrupt one of the most profitable sectors in technology. Google’s search business generates over $100 billion annually, making it a prime target for disruption.
The significance extends beyond market competition. AI-powered conversational search represents a fundamental shift in how people access and interact with information online. Rather than clicking through multiple links, users can receive synthesized, contextual answers directly. This could reshape digital advertising, content creation, and information discovery.
For businesses and content creators, the rise of AI search tools means adapting SEO strategies and content formats to remain visible. The friendly rivalry between Altman and Srinivas also highlights the competitive yet collaborative nature of the AI industry, where former colleagues now lead competing ventures. As multiple AI companies vie for search dominance, consumers benefit from rapid innovation and improved tools, while traditional search giants face unprecedented pressure to evolve.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt-4o-best-search-product-2025-2