OpenAI’s ChatGPT search feature is experiencing swift adoption across Europe, as reported by tech news outlet TechCrunch on Monday.
A report from OpenAI Ireland reveals a dramatic surge in ChatGPT’s search function usage, with monthly active users (MAU) skyrocketing to 41.3 million in just six months. This represents a fourfold increase from the 11.2 million users recorded in October last year.
OpenAI is adhering to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by regularly disclosing ChatGPT search data. The DSA defines MAU as individuals who view, listen to, or contribute information on a platform. It mandates external audits and data sharing for large platforms exceeding 45 million users. Should ChatGPT search cross this threshold, OpenAI may soon face these regulatory requirements.
Since its debut last year, ChatGPT search has emerged as a potential rival to established search engines like Google. A survey conducted last September found that 8% of respondents would opt for ChatGPT as their primary search engine over Google.
Despite this challenge, Google continues to dominate the search engine market. One analysis suggests that Google’s search volume outpaces ChatGPT’s by 373 times. Furthermore, concerns about ChatGPT search’s reliability persist. A study revealed that ChatGPT misidentified 67% of the articles it retrieved, with accuracy issues also noted in its handling of news content. Similar problems were observed even in sources with which OpenAI has established licensing agreements.