SearchGPT
SearchGPT is OpenAI's AI-powered search product, integrated into ChatGPT, that combines real-time web results with LLM answers including source citations.
SearchGPT was announced as a prototype in 2024 and rolled out to ChatGPT Plus users in October 2024. Broadly available from 2025. Under the hood: OAI-SearchBot crawler + Bing-index partnership + GPT-4o models. Answers contain clickable citations. For SEO professionals: SearchGPT creates a third major AI search ecosystem alongside Google AI Mode and Perplexity.
Example
A user asks ChatGPT 'what's the latest on MiCA?'. SearchGPT activates automatically, searches current sources, returns a synthesised answer with 4–6 source links. A click on a citation = direct traffic to that source.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get cited in SearchGPT?
Allow OAI-SearchBot in robots.txt, publish timely/deep content (recency counts), use clear H2 questions, consider /llms.txt, build brand authority in the topic.
SearchGPT or AI Overviews — who wins?
Neither 'wins' — they coexist. Google has volume; SearchGPT grows fast among younger/tech-savvy users. Optimise for both (many shared best practices).
Related terms
Further reading
- → Our service: GEO
- → Blog: ChatGPT citations are heavily concentrated