On March 24th, OpenAI announced its ChatGPT plugin service, which includes a web-browsing mode that enables ChatGPT to search for the latest online content instead of relying solely on training data. This feature, initially called Browsing (Alpha), allows ChatGPT to provide users with up-to-date information on current events, such as trending news and sports events.
There was initial uncertainty about whether Browsing (Alpha) was based on GPT-3.5 or GPT-4. However, OpenAI has now clarified this by renaming the feature to Default (GPT-3.5) with browsing (Alpha), confirming that it is indeed based on GPT-3.5.
The web-browsing mode works by utilizing ChatGPT’s web crawler to quickly search and retrieve data from the internet, making it particularly useful for accessing timely information. Currently, the plugin service and web-browsing mode are in testing, with only a select few users granted access. If you have not yet seen these features, it’s normal, as they will gradually become available to a wider audience.