OpenAI has unveiled new enhancements to its ChatGPT Search feature, introducing an experimental shopping interface that enables users to visually explore products and access direct purchasing links. Alongside this new shopping capability, the company is integrating utility features that include multiple citations for identical information, a searchable WhatsApp bot functionality, and features for trending searches alongside autocomplete suggestions. These updates are expected to be available over the next few days.
In a series of updates shared on X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI outlined these advancements in its search functions for ChatGPT. The company highlighted that its web search feature is rapidly gaining popularity, achieving over one billion web searches within the past week. Initially launched in November 2024 for paid subscribers, it was made available to all users, including non-registered individuals, in February.
Shopping
We’re experimenting with making shopping simpler and faster to find, compare, and buy products in ChatGPT.
✅ Improved product results
✅ Visual product details, pricing, and reviews
✅ Direct links to buyProduct results are chosen independently and are not ads.… pic.twitter.com/PkZwsTxJUj
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 28, 2025
Among the most significant updates is a newly designed shopping experience, which allows users to learn about and purchase products through the ChatGPT interface. This feature utilizes web search technology to display product images, detailed pricing, reviews, and direct links for purchases.
When users pose product-related questions, this shopping interface activates, enabling them to compare prices and features across different sites or items, thus facilitating informed purchasing decisions.
The shopping functionalities are currently being rolled out to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers, as well as those using the free version and even logged-out users worldwide. OpenAI assures that the product recommendations are not advertisements, although it has not provided clarity on whether the company will earn commissions from purchases made through the platform.
In December 2024, OpenAI launched a phone line (+1-800-242-8478) for users to initiate conversations with ChatGPT via WhatsApp. Until now, this version of ChatGPT did not feature access to real-time data. However, the addition of web search capabilities will now allow users to inquire about current events and live sports scores.
Improved Citations
ChatGPT can now include multiple citations for a given response, allowing you to learn more or verify information across more sources.
We’ve also added a new ‘highlight’ UI to more clearly show which part of the answer the citation refers to. pic.twitter.com/NdojcPyA9T
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 28, 2025
Furthermore, improvements have been made to the citation system. ChatGPT will now provide multiple citations for information sourced from the web, enhancing user verification by linking to various URLs. Tapping on these citations will now also highlight the specific text related to each source.
Additionally, OpenAI is introducing several quality-of-life enhancements, including the display of trending searches on ChatGPT’s mobile and web platforms. This feature aims to help users discover popular topics of interest. The chatbot will also present autocomplete suggestions as users start typing their queries.
