OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed creator of ChatGPT, has confirmed the chatbot can now browse the internet to provide users with current information.
The artificial intelligence-powered system was previously trained only using data up to September 2021.
The move means some premium users will be able to ask the chatbot questions about current affairs, and access news.
OpenAI told the BBC the feature would open up to all users soon.
Earlier in the week, OpenAI also revealed the chatbot will soon be able to have voice conversations with users.
ChatGPT and other similar systems use huge amounts of data to create convincing human-like responses to user queries.
They are expected to dramatically change the way people search for information online.
There were a number of reasons why ChatGPT did not search the internet until now: computing cost for one thing. It is often said that every single query costs OpenAI a few cents.
More significantly though, the limited data provided a valuable safety net.
ChatGPT could not start regurgitating harmful or illegal material it happened to find newly uploaded to the net in response to a query.
Regulators will be watching development closely.
The start-up is 49% owned by Microsoft and expects to reach $1billion in revenue this year.
FTSE 100
The UK's top share index, the FTSE 100, was up one-point at 7,594 after opening this morning, following yesterday's 32-point drop.
Brent crude futures were up 0.65% this morning at $94.97 a barrel.
Companies reporting today
- Bluefield Solar Income Fund (Full year results)
- Ceres Power Holdings (Half year results)