Due to the latest developments in the AI ​​(artificial intelligence) industry, ChatGPT Search, also known as SearchGPT, was officially launched on November 1, 2024. According to OpenAI's website, ChatGPT search allows you to get “quick, timely answers with links” to relevant web sources that previously you would have had to use a search engine for.

This feature, which was initially tested on a select group of users for an initial testing phase in July this year, can be accessed via the globe icon in chat for premium ChatGPT Plus and Team users. When you enter your prompt, the bot responds with information from various sources on the web, which it integrates into the flow of your conversation with it.

According to the 2024 Work Trend Index from Microsoft and LinkedIn, approximately 75% of knowledge workers now use AI at work. For all AI enthusiasts at work who tend to use ChatGPT or other AI tools on a daily or weekly basis to assist them in tasks like market research and other SEO content creation and adding new features like the ChatGPT Searches are certainly welcome news as they enrich your experience with this application.

But ChatGPT Search has striking similarities to its competitor Perplexity AI and of course Google Search, which also recently introduced an AI-powered search feature that appears whenever you search on the Google search engine. This can confuse many professionals and make it difficult to figure out which one is best for work purposes since they have so much in common.

For example, Perplexity AI helps you conduct in-depth research by not only providing answers from publications, blogs, and trusted websites, but also providing you with quotes so you can dive deeper and discover more. ChatGPT Search promises to do the same. Google's AI search overview includes numbers alongside the abbreviated answers to your query, saving you endless scrolling, while the numbers point to quotes in case you want to learn more.

ChatGPT search vs. perplexity AI

So what are some key differences and what are the pros and cons of ChatGPT Search and Perplexity AI? Let's hear it from everyday professionals themselves:

Joe Amaral, a digital marketing entrepreneur with a background in technology and data analytics, says he primarily uses Perplexity.ai for keyword analysis and to generate specific insights for SEO strategies, a central part of his role at Anthem Software. This has helped Amaral develop targeted marketing approaches.

His thoughts on ChatGPT search?

“I was impressed by his ability to generate creative content ideas. This feature has been particularly useful during brainstorming sessions for new marketing campaigns and provides a fresh perspective that fits well with our innovative approach at Anthem Software. The downside I had with ChatGPT Search is its occasional breadth, sometimes lacking the targeted specificity that we can get from Perplexity.ai. For example, as we refine our email marketing strategies, accurate data insights are critical, with Perplexity.ai often standing out.”

Amaral is far from the only professional who has recognized the problem of generality in ChatGPT searches. Milan Kordestani, a Generation Z entrepreneur, often uses Perplexity.ai for data analysis and customer insights as part of his strategic decision-making at Ankord Media, especially when it comes to responding to market trends.

He shares: “When I tested ChatGPT Search, I found that its ability to integrate with large data sets positively influenced content creation and ensured depth and relevance in digital narratives. It streamlined our workflows by providing quick access to information and increased our team’s efficiency in project delivery.”

“However, ChatGPT search lacks the contextual precision that Perplexity.ai provides, which is critical for insightful customer analysis. Despite the positive aspects, I find that Perplexity.ai performs better on specific tasks that require deep analytical insights due to its superior contextual awareness,” Kordestani says.

Several other professionals interviewed for this purpose expressed the same feedback. Overall, ChatGPT is good, but not good enough if you need deep insights for critical analysis within your role. Some also stated that Perplexity AI's visual appeal with its search results is, at least for now, more impressive than that of ChatGPT Search.

However, other workers prefer ChatGPT search, particularly because it seems more human-like in tone. Lucas Botzen, HR expert and CEO at Rivermate, says: “I would definitely choose ChatGPT Search over the other. Both systems are credible to a certain extent, but this conversational nature of ChatGPT implies a broader perspective and is therefore much more useful to someone.” In other words, the ability to have a more interactive conversation and discuss topics in more detail means more to the complexity of human resources work.”

Here are the advantages and disadvantages briefly summarized:

Perplexity AI

• Real-time web search
• Quotes
• Straight to the point and pretty accurate
• Access is free, but paid plans are available
• Doesn't have an appealing conversational tone

ChatGPT Search

• Real-time web search
• Quotes
• More general and conversational tone
• Stays in the context of your chats
• Users may need to do more cross-referencing to ensure accuracy
• Currently not as visually appealing as Perplexity.ai
• Available only to paid users on Plus and Team plans (rolling out to free users in a few months)

AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai's new web search capabilities are extremely useful for work tasks such as competitor analysis, assisting in content creation based on the data insights collected, tool comparison and evaluation of software, and highlighting important information when providing instant information Summaries when you're pressed for time. Which one you choose will depend on your personal trial and error, your work preferences, the level of detail you need in your work, and the tone in which you prefer to converse.