SearchGPT prototype and OAI-SearchBot
OpenAI announced a search prototype with publisher controls and introduced OAI-SearchBot as a separate crawler for search indexing.
What changed
OpenAI unveiled SearchGPT as a limited prototype combining generated answers with in-line source attribution and publisher-facing controls. Crucially it introduced OAI-SearchBot as a distinct user agent from the training crawler GPTBot, so publishers could allow search indexing while refusing training use. OpenAI stated that sites opting out of OAI-SearchBot would not be shown in ChatGPT search answers, though they could still appear as navigational links. The prototype became ChatGPT search three months later.
Timing
Rollout began 25 July 2024. No completion date was announced. Rankings typically remain unstable for the whole rollout window, so measurements taken inside it are not a reliable read on the outcome.