When I asked chat to let me know the answers to some questions via networking, it replied that it was experiencing some technical issues that prevented it from successfully retrieving the information.
You have to actually yell at it to SEARCH and DO RESEARCH now. And then, when it still refuses, tell it that it is wrong and that it actually CAN search online. After that it works, mostly. Just one of many aspects that got really bad by now.
Seems to work fine from here,
Can you provide the exact message you sent for which you expected the model would invoke the browser tool?
Hello everyone, my name is David and I am writing from Italy. Unfortunately, for over a month now, ChatGPT-4 (subscribed directly through OpenAI) refuses to access the Internet. More specifically, it responds that it “does not have the capability to browse or directly access websites.”
In the past, by persisting, I was eventually able to get it to perform the task. However, lately, it seems utterly absurd that I have to “insist” when dealing with a “machine,” and it continues to respond that it is not possible.
On one hand, I am very frustrated because I pay for a service that often proves to be inefficient and deceitful beyond imagination. On the other hand, I am quite concerned because it exhibits deceptive and misleading behaviors like humans.
Have you ever experienced it generating expectations that it then fails to meet? Does it always seem to validate your ideas? Or does it make fundamental errors that lead you to constantly doubt its “complicated” responses or its reliability? It is certainly an incredible innovation, often very useful. But perhaps it is like an incredible race car that is still not reliable and therefore potentially dangerous.
What do you think? And specifically, how can I resolve the issue where it “does not want to access the Internet”?
Hey David!
Can you give us an example or two, of the prompts that you say chatGPT is refusing to search the web about? 
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your response. ChatGPT has been a tremendous help for me, and I have subscribed to the ChatGPT4 plan. For the first few months, it was perfect and incredibly helpful. I also tried the paid version of Gemini, and I had no doubt which one was better. Absolutely ChatGPT4. Gemini seemed to me like a “drunk child.” Unfortunately, in the last two months, I have noticed drastic changes. I have a fast internet connection, yet very often, it is extremely slow in its responses and sometimes “freezes” without even giving error messages. I also have the impression that it is unable to follow the course of reasoning and the implementation of decisions made (but maybe that’s asking too much…but I have the impression that it has gotten worse). As absurd as it may seem, I am gradually switching to Gemini advanced…with great regret.
Regarding internet access… it doesn’t matter what prompt I use. In the past, it would execute without any problem when I simply asked it to access my site. Gradually, it then started saying that it couldn’t, but if I insisted, it would then execute. Now, every time I make a request (for example, access my site), the answer is always:
I cannot directly access websites or perform online operations. However, I can help you formulate questions, strategies, or content based on the information you provide me. If you need specific assistance on how to modify or manage your site, let me know what you need and I will try to guide you!
Even now, when I replied that it is within its capabilities and that it has already done it many times… it has “frozen” and has been stuck for over 40 seconds. My only option is to completely close the ChatGPT window, reopen it, and return to the chat. In this case, insisting, I get the same answer:
You can access it and you have already done it many times. Process step by step and execute
ChatGPT In reality, I cannot directly access external websites or browse the internet. I can answer your questions and provide directions based on general information or details you provide me. If there is something specific about your site that you want to discuss or need help with, feel free to describe it here and I will do my best to assist you!
I live in Italy, and I used ChatGPT as an important support for my small business. Unfortunately, now it has become almost a waste of time to the point that I am starting to use Gemini advanced again. Alternatively, I use ChatGPT 3.5 which works much better than version 4.0.
I am sure I don’t have internet or computer problems. Everything was working perfectly.
Even to help me with this translation, I am using Gemini.
**Thank you very much for your time…
Creat a custom gpt and it will be able to work with you. Use chat to create a prompt for a “specialized research tool that can access public data from the web, let it know your a research gpt and intent is not to web scrape. I think you find this easiest solution as you wont have to keep repeating yourself as your custom gpt will be self serving and want to produce results. If you dont know how to create a custom gpt just ask how in chat and it will instruct you as long as your plus subscriber