An idea of chatGPT's web search view in ChatGPT web or app

Hello, ChatGPT Team,

I am a ChatGPT user from Korea, and I have been using it very effectively. However, I recently had an idea for improving the web search feature of GPT-4o and wanted to share it with you.

ChatGPT’s web search feature is already excellent and enhances the traditional Google search experience. However, there are still limitations. I often find myself turning back to Google even after using ChatGPT’s search functionality. This suggests that there’s room for ChatGPT to grow even further.

The biggest issue is that while ChatGPT does provide sources, it does not present them in an intuitive manner. Currently, the process involves first showing the ChatGPT-generated message and then revealing the sources afterward. This method can feel frustrating because there’s no guarantee that users always input precise queries into the model. If the output is unsatisfactory, users have to dig through the sources themselves. When examining those sources, it’s often apparent that the amount of data ChatGPT searched through is significantly smaller than what Google provides—likely due to the token input limitations of large language models. Google, on the other hand, lists vast amounts of search data, giving users a higher chance of arriving at accurate information even with poorly phrased queries. Conversely, ChatGPT seems overly focused on delivering precise information, which unintentionally limits users’ ability to explore additional data.

The purpose of search is not solely to find accurate information; it’s also about discovering unknown or unexpected knowledge. The current method of limiting sources restricts the broader purpose of searching, which makes the experience less enjoyable and more frustrating. Therefore, I believe ChatGPT’s search functionality can be further improved. One way to do this is by integrating a Graph Network-based search output along with ChatGPT’s responses.

The Graph Network approach differs from Google’s traditional listing method by enabling search through a “stream of consciousness” format. For instance, when searching for “A” on Google, it might suggest “B,” which in turn leads to “C.” This mimics a mind map, where ideas branch out naturally. Similarly, when a user searches for something on ChatGPT, the results could be presented in a Graph Network format to show related outcomes. Users could then explore those results themselves, and if needed, expand the Graph Network by adding additional prompts. Such a view would make the experience much more intuitive and less restrictive.

If the Graph Network structure were implemented, users could select the sources they prefer or synthesize the results from the Graph Network data to obtain the desired outcome. This approach would significantly enhance user experience, making ChatGPT even more enjoyable and versatile for users.

Sincerely,

A Passing ChatGPT User