SearchGPT was introduced by OpenAI as a search prototype in 2024. Its search capabilities were subsequently integrated into ChatGPT, allowing users to find current information from the web directly within conversations. Today, ChatGPT Search can retrieve relevant web information, generate contextual answers, and provide links to supporting sources.
Unlike a conventional search experience, where users typically receive a list of pages to explore, ChatGPT can combine information from multiple sources into a single response. Users can also ask follow-up questions without starting their search again.
This changes how businesses need to approach online visibility. Imagine someone asking ChatGPT, “Which digital marketing agency can help a US-based locksmith business improve local search visibility?”
Instead of manually browsing several agency websites, the user may receive a shortlist of relevant businesses, an explanation of their services, and links to supporting sources. If your website is not among the sources ChatGPT discovers and considers relevant, you could miss an opportunity to reach that potential customer.
That is why a dedicated SearchGPT SEO service now deserves a place beside your regular SEO program. The foundations overlap, but the way pages get selected is different, and so are the ways they get missed.