OpenAI Overhauls ChatGPT Search With New Query Language

Image credit: Search Engine Journal

OpenAI replaced ChatGPT’s underlying JSON-based search tool with a new compact, pipe-separated query language between August 16 and August 20, significantly altering how the AI model processes and retrieves information.

The unannounced overhaul introduces several new parameters, including a “freshness window” that dictates the recency of information considered relevant, and distinct “call types” or verticals for different search needs.

The new search mechanism now allows for a numeric freshness window, specified in days, to ensure information retrieved is current, according to observations by Suganthan Mohanadasan. This window varies based on the query type; for example, a stock price query might require data from the last two days, while commercial product research could extend to 30 days.

Different “call types” have been integrated to categorize searches. These include “fast” for general web searches, “product” for catalog lookups of physical goods, and “business” for location-based inquiries, Mohanadasan reported.

Search queries can now include optional parameters such as a specific domain to target, a feature absent in the previous JSON format. This allows for more precise information retrieval.

The “search_queries” metadata field, which previously mirrored fan-out behavior, has been entirely removed from the payload. Additionally, the “response_length” directive from the older JSON format has been renamed to “length” and now uses values like “length|long,” “length|medium,” or “length|short” to control the amount of text retrieved per result.

For physical products, ChatGPT can now directly search item catalogs, indicating a separate system for product presence beyond standard webpage content, Mohanadasan stated. This suggests an expanded capability for e-commerce related queries.

The brand names appearing in ChatGPT’s queries, such as Intercom, Gorgias, Zendesk, Ada, Tidio, Crisp, NVIDIA, Roborock, Dreame, and Eufy, represent the competitive set the AI recognizes within a given category, according to analysis of the new system.

Source: Search Engine Journal