Microsoft-backed OpenAI may launch search, taking on Google's 'biggest product' - Times of India

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Speculations in the tech world suggest that

OpenAI

is gearing up for a major announcement, possibly a new

search engine

. According to Jimmy Apples, who reports the claim as an insider, the company is planning an event this month (May), tentatively scheduled for May 9, 2024, at 10 am.

This speculation is fueled by OpenAI's recent hiring spree for an events team, starting in January.

"They were actively recruiting for in-house event staff and event marketing back in January, and just hired an events manager last month," shared Jimmy Apples, hinting at a significant event potentially in June where OpenAI might unveil its next big project, "whatever Sam [Altman, CEO] decides to call it."

Furthermore, Jimmy Apples suggests a flurry of activity within OpenAI since late April. "There have been at least 50 new internal subdomains created since April 24th."

According to media reports, if these rumors hold weight, OpenAI's search engine could preempt

Google

I/O, scheduled for May 14th, 2024. This could also render Perplexity AI obsolete, especially considering

Microsoft

's recent ban on employee use due to security concerns.

OpenAI search likely to be powered by Microsoft Bing

Reports have indicated that OpenAI has been developing a web search product, potentially intensifying competition with Google. The service might leverage Bing's infrastructure to some extent. In a recent podcast with Lex Fridman, OpenAI CEO

Sam Altman

acknowledged the potential of large language models (LLMs) in search: "The perfect marriage of LLMs and search hasn't been achieved yet. I'd love to tackle that challenge, it would be exciting."

However, Altman emphasized OpenAI's desire to avoid simply replicating Google Search. "I find the current model boring. The question shouldn't be about building a 'better' Google Search. It's about fundamentally improving information discovery, utilization, and synthesis," he explained.

OpenAI's potential search app follows Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's declaration last year to "make Google dance" by integrating OpenAI's GPT models into Bing. With both tech giants vying for search dominance, the landscape could be set for a significant shift in how users access information online.