The new ‘SearchGPT’ (prototype) AI search feature which OpenAI plans to eventually integrate directly into ChatGPT is being seen by some as the future of search and a potential challenger to Google Search.

What Is SearchGPT? 

At present, OpenAI (the makers of ChatGPT) describes the prototype version of SearchGPT, which is currently being tested in the US, as “new search features designed to combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources”. In essence, OpenAI says the new tool is a better way of “finding what you’re looking for” than the multiple attempts required to get relevant results using normal search engines and “can be faster and easier”.

What’s So Different About It? 

Although Google and Microsoft have already integrated AI into their search engines, what’s different about SearchGPT is:

– It’s designed to rapidly “give you an answer” i.e., a clear answer to a question rather than a huge list of links (although it also gives attribution links to relevant sources, which OpenAI says help users connect with publishers).

– It responds to users’ questions with up-to-date information from the web.

– Users can ask follow-up questions (as they would in a conversation with a person) with the shared context building with each query (as it does with ChatGPT conversations).

The Future of Internet Search? 

As illustrated by OpenAI quoting Nicholas Thompson (CEO of The Atlantic) on its website saying, “AI search is going to become one of the key ways that people navigate the internet”, many think that AI chatbots are the future of search and could soon be challenging the likes of Google.

Really? 

It seems, however, with SearchGPT still being tested and Google having an absolutely dominant 90 per cent of the market globally, taking serious amounts of market share away from Google is still some way off.

Concerns and An Early Setback 

It seems even less likely that Google will have much to worry about in the immediate future given that (in a way reminiscent of Google’s Bard – since renamed as Gemini) giving incorrect information about space telescopes in its live introductory video, SearchGPT has made its own early gaffe. Unfortunately, in a prerecorded video showcasing SearchGPT, it gave incorrect information about the dates of the Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone, North Carolina.  Not only is this likely to undermine its promise and damage trust in its much-trumpeted abilities, it looks likely to delay its introduction while issues are ironed it. The gaffe may also strengthen the belief that answers from generative AI (as many of us will have experienced) can’t yet be fully trusted due to the proliferation of ‘AI hallucinations’ and errors.

That said (and despite this setback) with more people using chatbots like ChatGPT daily, it does seem plausible that chatbots could soon become more of a ‘one-stop-shop’ for various requests, including search. Leading search engines, such as Google may be therefore justified in keeping a close eye on features like SearchGPT and should perhaps concentrate on their own versions, e.g. a search feature for Google’s Gemini. For example, Google has already developed new AI-based search features like AI Overviews (AI-generated summaries at the top of the search results) and ‘Circle to Search’ which uses advanced image recognition and search capabilities.

Other Concerns 

Other concerns about AI taking over search include environmental worries because AI causes data centres to need more power and cooling, and offering conversational paragraphs (rather than just showing users’ links) has worried news companies that rely on search traffic for audiences and revenue.

Partnering With Publishers Too 

OpenAI says that in addition to launching the SearchGPT prototype, it’s also launching “a way for publishers to manage how they appear in SearchGPT, so publishers have more choices”. OpenAI says this will give publishers more autonomy and flexibility in managing their content’s presence on the platform. For OpenAI, however, this looks likely to be another monetisation / revenue opportunity, e.g. offering premium features or services to publishers.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The introduction of SearchGPT by OpenAI signifies a potential shift in the search landscape that could impact several key players. For OpenAI, the successful integration of SearchGPT into ChatGPT would position it as a formidable competitor to Google Search, offering users a streamlined, conversational search experience that promises quick, relevant answers instead of overwhelming lists of links. This could potentially disrupt the traditional search market, where Google currently holds a dominant 90 per cent share.

For Google and other traditional search engines, SearchGPT represents both a challenge and a catalyst for innovation. Google’s development of AI-based search features like ‘AI Overviews’ and ‘Circle to Search’ shows a recognition of the need to evolve and stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. While Google’s dominance provides some buffer, the emergence of effective AI-driven search tools means that constant innovation will be essential to maintain its leadership position.

Advertisers may also need to adapt their strategies to leverage the new search dynamics introduced by AI. The focus on providing quick answers and engaging users in a conversational manner could change how advertisements are presented and how user engagement is measured. Companies will need to stay agile and explore new advertising models that align with AI-driven search behaviours.

Publishers and media companies (who are reportedly collaborating with OpenAI) might find new opportunities in this evolving search environment. The ability to manage content presence on SearchGPT could offer more control and potentially new revenue streams, especially if OpenAI provides premium features or services. However, the challenge will be to ensure that AI-driven answers do not erode traffic to their sites, which is vital for their ad revenue and audience retention.

For businesses and individuals seeking efficient ways to find information online, SearchGPT could offer a more intuitive and faster search experience. The ability to ask follow-up questions and receive contextual answers could enhance user satisfaction and productivity. However, as with any new technology, the initial accuracy and reliability of AI responses will be crucial. It looks as though businesses will still need to be careful about verifying information obtained through AI search to avoid inaccuracies and AI hallucinations.

In summary then, the advent of SearchGPT could herald significant changes in how search engines function and how users interact with online information. For OpenAI, it presents a promising avenue to challenge established players like Google and make some extra revenue.

Following a previous announcement four years ago that it would be blocking third-party cookies from its Chrome browser, Google appears to have ‘updated’ that firm commitment in favour of a new approach.

What Has Google Said? An “Updated Approach” … 

Google’s most recent comment is that it now favours an “updated approach that elevates user choice. Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time”. 

In short, this appears to indicate not just some serious backtracking (much to the disappointment of the UK privacy watchdog) but that Google will continue to allow a third-party cookie-based system, will operate it in parallel with another system, and will just show users a pop-up asking them to decide to turn the third-party cookies on or off.

Third-Party Cookies 

A cookie is a piece of code (used for tracking) that takes the form of a small text file that is stored on the browser of someone who visits a website. Whereas ‘first party’ cookies are more related to website analytics and don’t record where a user goes after leaving a website, a third-party cookie (created by a third-party, e.g. an advertiser) is used to track a web user in order to create a profile of them. The profile is then used to show that user ‘relevant’ targeted adverts when visiting completely different websites at different times.

What’s The Issue With Third-Party Cookies? 

Google made the announcement that it was phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome (as Firefox and Safari had already done before it) for several key reasons, which were:

– To comply with new data privacy laws, such as GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA, requiring tech companies to obtain user permission before tracking and sharing data. For example, UK websites must display cookie consent and privacy information due to GDPR.

– Pressure from privacy campaigners, e.g. Groups like Big Brother Watch and universities challenging tech companies over user tracking and data privacy, urging for more ethical practices.

– Investigations, such as that by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over whether limiting cookies on Chrome benefited Google by increasing its dominance in the online ad industry. Some argued this move could force reliance on first-party cookies, benefiting Google financially.

– Competition among browsers pressuring Google to adopt similar privacy measures, with Safari, Firefox, and Brave leading the way in restricting third-party cookies.

Why Not Just Remove Them? 

As noted by Google at the time, its Ad Manager data shows that when advertising is made less relevant by simply removing cookies, funding for publishers falls by 52 per cent on average.

Alternatives – Privacy Sandbox and IP Protection 

Google is now saying that it will take a new approach, i.e. an optional third-party cookie system operated in tandem with something else – Google appears to be focusing on its original idea of Privacy Sandbox as the other system. In addition to continuing “to make the Privacy Sandbox APIs available and invest in them to further improve privacy and utility”, Google says it also intends to “offer additional privacy controls” in the form of introducing “IP Protection into Chrome’s Incognito mode”. 

The Privacy Sandbox is an initiative designed to enhance user privacy while allowing targeted advertising by replacing third-party cookies with new technologies. It includes Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), which groups users into cohorts based on browsing habits to hide individual identities, Trust Tokens to verify user authenticity without revealing identities, and an Aggregated Reporting API that provides data to advertisers without exposing individual user details. The goal is to protect user privacy while maintaining effective online advertising.

Following its recent resting of the Privacy Sandbox idea, Google announced that “the Privacy Sandbox APIs and other privacy-centric solutions like first-party data can help publishers improve their monetisation and mitigate impact from signal loss”.

Issues

Google’s apparent turnaround appears to have pleased some advertisers but there is now a broader prevailing shift towards user privacy and data awareness (accompanied by appropriate legislation) that Google’s new solution will have to align with. For example, it’s important that any cookie consent choices are presented to users in a neutral, clear manner, thereby complying with GDPR requirements for informed and unambiguous consent.

Also, there are antitrust regulations to consider. For example, the CMA intervened in 2021 over concerns that Google’s plans might push more advertisers to use Google’s systems and, in 2022, Google made commitments to address these concerns. Following Google’s latest announcement, therefore, the CMA is reported to be working closely with the ICO to evaluate Google’s new plan and its potential impact on consumers and the market.

Google has indicated that it will be working with relevant watchdogs to make sure its new approach is compliant, saying: “as we finalise this approach, we’ll continue to consult with the CMA, ICO and other regulators globally. We look forward to continued collaboration with the ecosystem on the next phase of the journey to a more private web.” 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For advertisers, Google’s updated approach may offer both challenges and opportunities. While the continuation of third-party cookies allows for more targeted advertising, the added user choice means advertisers must be prepared for a portion of users opting out. This shift necessitates a more flexible strategy that combines traditional cookie-based tracking with new tools like those offered by the Privacy Sandbox. Staying informed and adaptive will be crucial to maintaining effective ad campaigns and optimising ad spend.

With Google’s new approach, it looks as though users will benefit from having at least some increased control over their privacy. The ability to choose whether to allow third-party cookies empowers users to protect their personal data. However, it also places the onus on them to understand the implications of their choices, which many users may be unlikely to do. It should be remembered that organisations (such as Google) must ensure their cookie consent processes are transparent and user-friendly, aligning with GDPR requirements for informed consent. Clear communication about data use will help build trust and improve user engagement.

Privacy groups may view Google’s updated stance as a partial victory, as it reflects growing recognition of privacy concerns. However, they will likely continue to advocate for stronger protections and clearer regulations. Organisations should anticipate ongoing scrutiny and potential changes in privacy standards, preparing to adjust their practices accordingly.

For Google, balancing the needs of advertisers, users, and regulators is a delicate task. The company’s new approach appears to seek to address privacy concerns while maintaining its dominance in the advertising market. Google’s competitors, such as Safari and Firefox, which have already implemented stricter privacy measures, will continue to shape the landscape. Staying competitive will require Google to innovate continuously and respond effectively to both market and regulatory pressures.

Overall, Google’s shift towards user-choice in cookie management signals a broader industry trend towards enhanced privacy.

In a reply to a user question on the X platform, Open AI’s CEO, Sam Altman, said that the alpha rollout of ChatGPT’s long-awaited ‘Voice Mode’ starts for Plus subscribers next week.

What Is Voice Mode? 

As the name of the feature suggests, ChatGPT’s ‘Voice Mode’ allows users to interact with the AI by simply using spoken language instead of typing. To do this, it uses advanced speech recognition technology which can convert spoken input into text, and it employs text-to-speech (TTS) technology to vocalise responses. Voice Mode should enhance accessibility for users who prefer verbal communication or have difficulty typing, thereby making it a convenient option. To use Voice Mode, a device with a microphone and speaker is required, and specific commands or settings may be needed to activate and customise the experience.

Competiton and Ready For Apple Integration 

With Voice Mode, OpenAI hopes to make interactions with ChatGPT more natural and user-friendly. It also needs Voice Mode to compete with Google Gemini’s voice feature, and to make ChatGPT ready for use when integrated with Apple devices and systems, as announced at this year’s WWDC.

What’s Been The Hold-Up? 

Originally planned for late June, the rollout to OpenAI’s Alpha users (a select group of people who provide testing and feedback), was put back another month to improve the “model’s ability to detect and refuse certain content”. The feature has been awaited with great anticipation by many regular ChatGPT users and has been the subject of frequent questions on social media. It now seems likely that further delays (for testing) may be possible, despite Sam Altman’s announcement that Plus subscribers will be getting Voice Mode in a week.

Omni and Wisper 

Voice Mode’s rollout also had to await the rollout of GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), OpenAI’s newest model, which has been described as “a step towards much more natural human-computer interaction”. Omni accepts as input any combination of text, audio, image, and video and generates any combination of text, audio, and image outputs and can respond to audio inputs with response times that are close to those in human conversations – hence Omni’s importance for Voice Mode to operate well. In addition to Omni, Voice Mode will utilise a “neural net” called ‘Whisper’ that OpenAI says “approaches human level robustness and accuracy on English speech recognition”.

What’s So Special About ChatGPT’s Voice Mode? 

Essentially, Voice Mode’s advantages are that it can enable “real-time, natural conversations with AI” and (as mentioned above) delivers text, audio, and image outputs. It can also talk in character voices, engage in interviews roleplay, and even help users to learn new languages.

Business Uses 

The potential business uses for Voice Mode are many and could include automating customer support, enhancing virtual assistant functionalities for employees, creating interactive marketing campaigns, facilitating training, and onboarding processes, and improving accessibility for users with disabilities.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The long (and still awaited) introduction of ChatGPT’s Voice Mode represents a significant advancement for businesses, offering a new dimension of interaction with AI that could transform various operational aspects. For example, using it for customer support, Voice Mode could automate responses to customer enquiries, providing quick, accurate assistance and freeing up human resources for more complex issues. This could lead to enhanced customer satisfaction (and loyalty).

In internal operations, integrating ChatGPT as a virtual assistant could help streamline tasks for employees, improving productivity and efficiency by handling scheduling, reminders, and information retrieval through simple voice commands. The ability to create interactive marketing campaigns with voice interactions could also open up innovative ways to engage customers, offering personalised experiences and product recommendations that could boost conversion rates. Training and onboarding processes could also benefit, e.g. with Voice Mode providing interactive, voice-guided instructions that make learning more intuitive and effective for new employees. Also, Voice Mode’s advanced speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities could (as mentioned above) improve accessibility, making digital interactions easier for individuals with disabilities and those who prefer verbal communication over typing. This inclusivity could enhance user experience and expand the reach of your business’s services and products.

For OpenAI, the rollout of Voice Mode (hopefully soon) will be a major milestone that strengthens its position in the AI market. By enhancing ChatGPT with natural, real-time voice interactions, OpenAI can demonstrate its commitment to advancing AI capabilities and user experience. This feature sets ChatGPT apart from competitors (e.g. Google), showcasing the versatility and potential of OpenAI’s technology.

The impending integration with Apple devices will further solidify OpenAI’s reach and influence, making its AI tools more accessible and embedded in everyday technology. The introduction of ChatGPT’s Voice Mode, therefore, raises the competitive stakes in the AI industry. Competitors like Google, with its Gemini voice feature, will need to innovate rapidly to keep pace. The ability of ChatGPT to offer multimodal interactions, combining text, audio, and image, positions it as a more comprehensive and flexible tool compared to other AI systems. This puts pressure on competitors to enhance their offerings and develop similar or superior capabilities to maintain their market positions.

In essence, integrating ChatGPT’s Voice Mode into your business operations could lead to greater efficiency, enhanced customer engagement, and improved accessibility, helping to position your company at the forefront of technological innovation and customer service excellence. For OpenAI, it marks a significant achievement and competitive advantage, while for competitors, it signifies a challenging new benchmark.

Apple has released the iOS 18.1 developer beta for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 which initially gives users a taste of a limited number of Apple Intelligence features. Apple Intelligence is the company’s suite of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies (as announced WWDC24 in June) designed to enhance user experience on their devices.

The first wave of features to try is reported to include writing tools (proofread text, rewrite, and text summarising), Siri with and updated design, new Mail features (e.g., a summarise button for incoming emails), natural language search in Photos, audio transcripts, phone call recording, and more.

Although a limited number of Apple Intelligence features in this beta version, it’s been reported that other (beta) features will roll out later this year.

A Threat Landscape report from cyber security company Imperva has revealed that the number of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks more than doubled globally last year, with the upward trend continuing in the first half of this year.

DDoS attacks overwhelm a target system with excessive traffic from multiple sources (multiple compromised systems, often infected with malware), causing it to slow down or crash, thereby denying service to legitimate users.

Imperva’s report attributes the increase in this type of attack to factors like geopolitical tensions, e.g. attacks on Ukraine are up by 519 per cent and attacks on Israel are up by 118 per cent. The report identifies the most attacked industries as being financial services, telecoms, and ISPs, which collectively account for around 60 per cent of all Layer 7 (flooding a website with fake traffic) DDoS attacks.

The advice to businesses looking to protect themselves from DDoS attacks is to implement robust security measures, such as using DDoS protection services, monitoring traffic, and having an incident response plan.

UK startup ‘The Tyre Collective’ has developed a tyre-dust magnet to attach to electric vehicles (EVs) to tackle the often-overlooked problem of tyre-dust microplastic pollution.

The Problem – The Dangers Of Tyre-Wear 

As explained by The Tyre Collective, “Tyre-wear is the second-largest source of microplastics in our oceans, toxic to marine life, and air particulate pollution”. The ‘tyre-wear’ it refers to are the particles of tyre dust, caused by friction on the road, that break off and are released every time a vehicle accelerates, brakes or corners. These tiny microplastic particles are both dangerous to health if breathed in, plus they pollute the environment.

Another interesting aspect of the problem is that EVs produce more trye-wear than regular vehicles because of their higher weight from heavy battery packs and instant torque, which increases stress on the tyres.

The Tyre Magnet 

The tyre-dust magnet, the first such device designed to capture tyre pollution, is a toaster-size device with a series of metal plates, that attaches to the undercarriage of a vehicle, behind the wheels. As the car drives, tyre dust from road friction is released as charged particles. The device uses electrostatics and airflow to attract and capture these particles, thereby removing the tyre-wear pollution at source.

How Effective Is It? 

As the Tyre Collective points out, the issue of tyre-wear particle pollution has been an overlooked area until now but “transport will never reach zero emissions, without capturing tyre-wear”.   

In terms of how effective the tyre magnet device is, The Tyre Collective says its technology can attract up to 60 per cent of a car’s tyre particles.

Upcycling 

One other advantage of the tyre magnet device is that the collected tyre-wear particles can be upcycled into a variety of applications creating a closed-loop system. Examples of where the upcycled trye particles can be used (industrial and consumer applications) include making bitumen, 3D-printing, shoe soles, and making high-performance activewear.

Which Vehicles? 

The Tyre Collective says it’s initially targeting logistic fleets, i.e. delivery and maintenance vans then moving onto buses and HGVs. Long term, the company aims to scale its devices across all vehicle segments and integrate them into new EVs globally.

Trials 

The tyre magnet was trialed last year on American EV manufacturer Rivian’s fully electric commercial vans. Other trials of the device have been with companies like CEVT & Volvo Cars, PostNL and BMW Financial Services.

There’s also another trial in the pipeline with a fleet of electric delivery vans owned by London-based startup HIVED.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

For businesses in the logistics and delivery sector, including those operating maintenance vans, the introduction of The Tyre Collective’s tyre-dust magnet offers an opportunity to reduce their environmental footprint. By integrating these devices into their fleets, companies could significantly cut down on tyre-wear pollution, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Additionally, this proactive approach may enhance the corporate image and attract environmentally conscious clients, while potentially lowering maintenance costs in the long run through reduced tyre-wear.

For buses and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), the benefits may be similarly substantial. These vehicles, often covering extensive miles and operating in urban areas, contribute significantly to microplastic pollution. By adopting the tyre-dust magnet technology, operators could play a crucial role in mitigating urban pollution, improving public health, and setting a precedent for sustainable transport. This could also align with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, potentially avoiding future compliance costs and penalties.

EV manufacturers stand to gain immensely from this kind of innovation. Integrating tyre-dust magnets into new EV models could, for example, enhance their appeal by addressing a significant environmental concern. As consumers become more eco-conscious, showcasing a commitment to reducing all forms of pollution, including tyre-wear, could provide a competitive edge. This integration also aligns with the broader industry goal of achieving zero emissions, reinforcing the sustainable image of EVs.

For The Tyre Collective, the successful deployment of their tyre-dust magnet represents a milestone in their mission to combat microplastic pollution. As their technology gains traction, they appear likely to establish themselves as leaders in environmental innovation in an overlooked area, opening doors for further research and development. The ability to upcycle collected tyre particles into new products will also create additional revenue streams and support a circular economy.

Residents in high-traffic areas could experience a direct positive impact from the widespread adoption of this technology. Reduced tyre-wear particles will mean cleaner air and a lower risk of respiratory issues associated with microplastic pollution. This improvement in air quality could lead to enhanced public health outcomes and a better quality of life for these communities.

From an environmental perspective, widespread implementation of tyre-dust magnets could lead to a significant reduction in microplastic pollution, benefiting marine and terrestrial ecosystems alike. This reduction is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the health of various species affected by microplastic ingestion.

Society as a whole also stands to benefit from cleaner air and a healthier environment. The reduced environmental impact of tyre-wear aligns with global sustainability goals and helps combat climate change. The positive ripple effects of this technology could, therefore, lead to greater public awareness and support for environmental initiatives, fostering a culture of sustainability.

The Tyre Collective’s innovative tyre dust magnet, therefore, could be a game-changer for multiple sectors and by effectively addressing this often-overlooked issue, it could provide a pathway to cleaner transport, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future.