Has ChatGPT evolved beyond being a 'Google replacement'? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says it is already doing much more
If you've ever found yourself asking ChatGPT for vacation ideas, SEO strategies, or even emotional advice, you're not alone. More than 400 million users now rely on ChatGPT every week, making it the fifth most visited website globally, according to
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
. But while it's become a near-constant presence in digital life, the real question is: has ChatGPT evolved beyond its early reputation as a Google alternative?
Altman certainly thinks so. In recent remarks at Y Combinator, the OpenAI chief clarified that while ChatGPT may have started as a more conversational search engine, its trajectory has shifted dramatically. 'For a long time, ChatGPT was like a Google replacement… it still felt like a more advanced version of search,' Altman said. 'But now, it's like a very junior employee that can work on something for a short period of time.'
Not Just a Search Engine Anymore
According to a report by Search Engine Journal, Altman emphasized that ChatGPT's goal is no longer limited to retrieving information. It's about doing things—completing tasks, automating workflows, and even proactively assisting users. Features like memory, reasoning, and integration with business tools are pushing ChatGPT toward becoming a true assistant.
'Memory is the first time where people can sort of see that coming,' Altman said, referring to ChatGPT's new ability to remember preferences and previous conversations. This shift supports OpenAI's broader vision of AI not just as a knowledge engine, but as a platform that connects to user data and performs tasks independently.
New model releases like GPT-4o and O3 are tailored for deeper reasoning and complex workflows. 'The technology is moving faster than most businesses can adapt to it,' Altman noted, suggesting that the current capabilities are ahead of widespread use cases.
You Might Also Like:
Losing jobs to AI was just the start, Gen Z is outsourcing emotions too. New reports warn of a looming crisis
The Google Comparison Still Lingers
Despite its advanced features, ChatGPT hasn't completely escaped comparisons with Google—and with good reason. According to TechRadar, many users now type questions into ChatGPT that they previously might've asked Google. But the two platforms serve fundamentally different roles.
Rohan Sarin, a former product lead at both Google and Microsoft, argues that ChatGPT and Google 'solve fundamentally different information problems.' If you know what you want—like a specific website or actor's name—Google still reigns. It provides direct links and a wealth of unfiltered data. ChatGPT, on the other hand, shines when you're unsure of your needs and want help exploring ideas or synthesizing concepts.
Put simply, Google connects you to the internet. ChatGPT helps you make sense of it.
Sarin adds that users often prefer convenience over precision. 'Most users don't particularly care about source verification or getting the exact right answer—they just want something that works,' he said. ChatGPT, free of ads and clutter, wins big on convenience.
— the_dhakshu_ (@the_dhakshu_)
You Might Also Like:
Does ChatGPT suffer from hallucinations? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admits surprise over users' blind trust in AI
A Future of Complementary Tools
Still, Google isn't going anywhere. SEO experts like Eric M. Hoover of Jellyfish believe Google's massive infrastructure, default integrations with browsers, and AI investments (such as Gemini and AI Overviews) ensure its continued dominance in search.
Rather than replacing Google, ChatGPT appears to be redefining the expectations we have from AI. It's no longer just about retrieving facts; it's about applying them. As Altman puts it, users can now assign tasks to ChatGPT—whether it's writing proposals, coding snippets, or analyzing data—and return to see a draft or solution, just like they would with a junior team member.
In this new landscape, the smartest users won't choose between Google and ChatGPT. They'll use both, strategically—turning to Google when they need direct answers and to ChatGPT when they need a guide, a partner, or a second brain.
Because in the evolving AI ecosystem, the real revolution isn't in replacing search. It's in augmenting human capability.
You Might Also Like:
Is ChatGPT making us dumb? MIT brain scans reveal alarming truth about AI's impact on the human mind
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Here's a tip to companies: Beware of promoting AI in products
It seems like it's the latest marketing strategy: Push the idea that your product or service has artificial intelligence in it. But recent research suggests that approach could backfire and actually turn off consumers. The effect is especially pronounced for offerings perceived to be riskier buys, such as a car or a medical-diagnostic service, say the researchers, who were from Washington State University and Temple University. 'When we were thinking about this project, we thought that AI will improve [consumers' willingness to buy] because everyone is promoting AI in their products," says Dogan Gursoy, a regents professor of hospitality business management at Washington State and one of the study's authors. 'But apparently it has a negative effect, not a positive one." In multiple experiments, involving different people, the researchers split participants into two groups of around 100 each. One group read ads for fictional products and services that featured the terms 'artificial intelligence" or 'AI-powered," while the other group read ads that used the terms 'new technology" or 'equipped with cutting-edge technologies." In each test, members of the group that saw the AI-related wording were less likely to say they would want to try, buy or actively seek out any of the products or services being advertised compared with people in the other group. The difference was smaller for items researchers called low risk—such as a television and a generic customer-service offering. Decisions seemed to come more from the heart than the head—that is, they were based mostly on emotions, say the researchers. Those with a negative view didn't trust AI-enabled products and services, especially if they didn't understand what AI in the offering does or if the offering poses any sort of safety risk. And that prevented them from making a clear assessment about whether they wanted to make a purchase. Gursoy says that he and colleagues are now working on additional projects to identify the cause of negative attitudes toward AI, though they speculate that concern for privacy is one. For example, the researchers found that enthusiasm for an AI-enabled refrigerator was weaker than for all the other products in the low-risk category. It could be that people just don't see the point of AI in a fridge, Gursoy says. 'Consumers simply see fewer compelling benefits," says Gursoy. 'A 'smart' fridge often carries a premium price tag, requires regular software updates and may raise privacy concerns if it tracks your groceries or eating habits." Meanwhile, a separate, forthcoming study from market-research firm Parks Associates that used different methods and included a much larger sample size came to similar conclusions about consumers' reaction to AI in products. 'We straight up asked consumers, 'If you saw a product that you liked that was advertised as including AI, would that make you more or less likely to buy it?' " says Jennifer Kent, the firm's vice president of research. Of the roughly 4,000 Americans in the survey, 18% said AI would make them more likely to buy, 24% said less likely and to 58% it made no difference, according to the study. 'Before this wave of generative AI attention over the past couple of years, AI-enabled features actually have tested very, very well," Kent says. While Gursoy's research didn't provide any insight into whether younger people are more receptive to AI in products and services than older people, Kent says her firm's study did. Among younger respondents (age 18 to 44), 24% to 27% said they would likely buy a product advertised as including AI, compared with 18% overall. Among respondents age 65 and older, 32% said they would be less likely to buy a product advertised with AI, compared with 24% overall. In any case, companies have to do a better job of making the argument for AI in their products, both Gursoy and Kent say. 'While AI-enabled appliances are appealing in theory," says Gursoy, 'the specific advantages of AI must be obvious and worthwhile to justify the investment." Sean Captain is a writer in New York. He can be reached at reports@
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Work smart to win 2029 polls: Naidu to TDP cadre
Vijayawada: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday exhorted his party leaders and cadre to not only work hard but also work smart as 'winning 2029 elections is my plan'. Addressing TDP's ministers, MPs, MLAs, leaders and others at the party office here on Sunday as part of 'Suparipalana - Tholi Adugu' (The First Step in Good Governance) campaign, Naidu stressed that TDP should remain in power beyond 2029 to continue development. Citing Singapore's example of prolonged single-party rule, he claimed that the state would have been on a rapid development path had TDP won in 2019. The Chief Minister further said that the state would aim to become a national innovation hub backed by industry and welfare synergy. According to him, the state government signed several investment-related MoUs that would generate 8.5 lakh jobs. Global corporates such as Google, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), LG Electronics, and ArcelorMittal are among those who will be investing in the state. "Investors believe in Andhra Pradesh's stability and potential," said Naidu, highlighting Cognizant Technology Solutions, Jindal Group, and others setting up units in Rayalaseema and North Andhra regions. Naidu stated that growth would be achieved in backward areas through aerospace, defence, and food processing units, ensuring job creation and equitable regional industrial development across multiple sectors. On the 'First Step in Good Governance' campaign marking the first anniversary of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, he urged party leaders and cadre to actively engage with the public for a month and showcase the state government's welfare and development initiatives implemented in the last one year. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of effective communication. "The government has undertaken numerous positive initiatives in the last year. These must be explained to the people," he asserted. According to him, the party prepared an action plan for a month-long, door-to-door campaign involving party leadership and cadres to disseminate information about the government's achievements. Naidu also urged leaders to be accessible to the public, stating, "the more accessible you are to the people, the more they will support you. Working is one thing; being available to the public is another." He also called for accountability, stating, "let's be accountable to the people. If there are mistakes, let's correct them." Naidu said that he was conducting various surveys to gather real-time information from the ground and assess the performance of MPs and MLAs. 'Only those who work hard will get positions,' he said. Naidu accused the YSR Congress of running deliberate smear campaigns, citing fabricated stories around murders, attacks, and false allegations on governance. He instructed party leaders to counter these narratives boldly, stressing that while highlighting welfare work is vital, exposing the opposition's alleged conspiracy-driven propaganda is equally important.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Ctrl + Alt + Escape: The 14-Hour Dilemma
The Karnataka government recently proposed amendments that could impact the workforce behind the IT capital of India. The proposal allows for up to 12-hour workdays, inclusive of overtime. The government has cited 'ease of doing business' as one of the reasons and clarified that it won't override the 48-hours-per-week limit that already exists. But IT unions have complained that it could be tantamount to 'modern slavery', diminish work-life balance, and cause mental agony and stress. What do I think of the entire issue? Honestly, as I get older, I realise that it isn't necessary to have opinions on everything. I don't belong to the IT world and have never really had a steady desk job in the last two decades. I make my living as a writer, far removed from the worlds of salaries, appraisals and hikes. So, I don't intend to 'IT-splain' my point on behalf of my IT brethren and sisterhood. At the same time, I can't feign ignorance of the anxiety-filled state of affairs in the IT domain. ChatGPT and AI – futuristic, sci-fi boons for writers like me – are a huge threat to traditional IT jobs. There is the threat of global layoffs. A potential World War III is simmering as we speak, and might soon engulf the world. These are all legit fears lurking in the world we inhabit. Then, there's the issue of traffic that citizens of Bengaluru have to uniquely endure. If working hours are pushed to 12 hours and the average commute takes 2 hours, that's 14 hours of a day engulfed in work. And it's not like we get to enjoy premium commuting services to help us rejuvenate ourselves and prepare for the day. There's the honking, the dust, and the diabetes-inducing sweetness of RJs that one must endure. In such a scenario, what can employees do? Some forces – governance, policy, and rules – are above our social jurisdiction. When nothing works, we have each other as human beings. The IT industry brothers and sisters must come up with innovative ways to battle this scenario. The only way the Bengaluru IT crowd can fight back is by doing what they do best – building apps through innovation. Start selling office chairs with inbuilt massage facilities. Create an underground carpooling service for sleep-deprived coders. So that when we go home, we have people who understand our plight – a shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to. HR-approved 'self-therapy' sessions that are basically nap sessions approved by the employer. Take a leaf from our brothers who drive autos and taxis. They are constantly speaking to each other on the phone so that they can stay awake, and have a friend to navigate the tricky lanes of life together. Create a self-help group of people who call each other during work hours so you can walk about in the office, pretending to be 'on a call'. To quote a certain Mr. Guevara – 'Revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.' Of course, Mr. Guevara had no idea that the word 'apple' would signify an electronics giant. But greater miracles have occurred in human history. In fact, one occurred a few weeks ago when the entire city came out to celebrate! To paraphrase (and twist) a famous quote – 'First, they came for the Testers, and I said nothing. Then they came for the UI/UX team, and I said nothing. Then they came for the scrum masters, and I said nothing. Finally, they came for me during my one-hour 'billable' lunch – and there was nobody left to speak for me.' (The writer's views are personal)
