OpenAI's AI search is absolutely dubious!

OpenAI has launched its own search engine. Many media outlets are overwhelmed with praise and are already calling for the end of Google and Co. A critical classification? None! One look at the sources is enough to determine: Search GPT is dubious! A comment.

With GPT Search, ChatGPT now has a search function. It is intended to compete with classic search engines. The problem: The search results are not only unbalanced, but also characterized by populism, sensational headlines and hate speech – and there is a reason for that.

Search GPT is not reputable – that’s why

In December 2023, OpenAI and Axel Springer Verlag entered into a global partnership. The self-declared goal: to strengthen “independent journalism” in the AI ​​age. Since then, ChatGPT has been providing users with summaries of selected news content BILD, Welt, Business Insider and Politico.

Due to the integration of GPT Search, the language model now also contains sources and links. To ensure access to relevant information, Open AI has also partnered with other news and data providers, including Associated Press, Condé Nastthe Financial Times, Reuters and The World.

These partnerships are intended to prevent legal disputes. But ChatGPT Search not only searches, processes, cites and links to the content of its media partners, but also other news websites. The collaborations appear questionable in this respect. Although the company emphasizes that the content is balanced, the reality tells a different story.

But what could go wrong when Search GPT is overwhelmingly dominated by news websites whose business model is based on populism, sensationalist headlines, inflammatory speech and fear-mongering? We did a little test.

Search results from ChatGPT: IMAGE and world dominate

Our search queries including results (as of November 6, 2024):

• Prompt: “Looking for current information on the VW crisis”. Sources: Welt, AutoBild, Welt, AutoBild, AutoBild, ZDF
• Prompt: “Looking for current information on German asylum policy”. Sources: Federal Government, Welt, Welt, ZDF
• Prompt: “Look for current information about the US election”: Sources: BILD, BILD, WirtschaftsWoche, Wikipedia, The first

Admittedly, the source information is not so noticeably one-sided for all search queries. But balance definitely looks different. Regardless of whether it is politics, sport or society: ChatGPT's search results are dominated by Springer media.

The language model therefore spreads content that actively contributes to the division of society by using narratives. That's how it is BILD for example, the newspaper with the most complaints from the Press Council, while the Welt appears regularly with campaign journalism – and sometimes even promotes conspiracy theories.

Since the release of ChatGPT, there has also been an increasing impression that numerous media outlets are praising everything that developer company OpenAI creates. True to the motto: “PICTURE of your opinion”. That's why it's all the more important to actively deal with the topic of AI and to look at Search GPT critically – not to mention regulation.

A notice: This article is a commentary. This is a journalistic form of presentationwhich explicitly reflects the opinion of the author and not the entire magazine. The comment does not claim to be objective, but is intended to stimulate the formation of opinions and is protected as an opinion piece by Article 5 of the Basic Law.

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