Cover CEO Sam Altman confirms updates to ChatGPT and GPT-4 at a May 13 event (Photo: Getty Images)
CEO Sam Altman confirms updates to ChatGPT and GPT-4 at a May 13 event (Photo: Getty Images)
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ChatGPT launched a new GPT-4o model across free and paid accounts with capabilities for users to engage through voice and video
There have been reports surrounding OpenAI’s potential launch of a new ChatGPT-powered search product, which could significantly impact the current landscape of Google-dominated web search.
However, in a May 13 public livestream event, OpenAI instead unveiled its most sophisticated language model GPT-4o. This new iteration is not only faster than its predecessors but also boasts enhanced capabilities in processing and generating content across text, vision and audio modalities, marking a significant leap toward the realisation of AI systems.
The announcement event was strategically timed just before Google’s I/O event the next day, where the tech giant is expected to showcase its Gemini AI products.
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GPT-4o stands out for its real-time interaction capabilities, allowing users to engage through voice and video. This advanced model supports live translation and can search through past conversations, maintaining a continuity that enhances user experience.
Additionally, GPT-4o can interact with visual inputs. Users can photograph a menu in a foreign language, and the model will not only translate it but also provide historical context and culinary recommendations
Above OpenAI’s new ChatGPT-4o can reason across audio, vision and text in real-time
During the live-streamed presentation, OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati emphasised the groundbreaking nature of GPT-4o, “The special thing about GPT-4o is it brings GPT-4 level intelligence to everyone, including our free users. This is the first time we’re making a huge step forward when it comes to ease of use.”
While there have been no confirmed plans to launch a full-fledged search engine or GPT-5, the rumours surrounding the company’s search engine highlight OpenAI’s aggressive efforts. There have been reports of attempts to poach Google employees to work on its search offering. This move underscores the competitive dynamics at play as AI technologies continue to evolve and challenge existing paradigms in web search.
