On Monday, OpenAI stated, “We have learned that the ChatGPT Browse beta can occasionally display content in ways we don’t want.”
OpenAI highlighted situations in which a ChatGPT Plus user would request the entire content of a URL, and instead of respecting paywalls and privacy settings, ChatGPT would provide the complete text, disregarding those restrictions.
Users who pay for a ChatGPT Plus subscription are granted exclusive access to features such as the GPT-4 Plugin Store, Browse with Bing, and the more advanced GPT-4 tool.
OpenAI announced that in order to address the issue and prioritize the interests of content owners, they have temporarily deactivated the Browse with Bing beta feature as of July 3, 2023.
In February, Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI with an investment of over $13 billion, incorporated ChatGPT into its Bing Browser. OpenAI then introduced GPT-4 in March, and in May, they enhanced the chatbot with the capability to browse the internet.
Although OpenAI has deactivated Browse with Bing, various plugins associated with GPT-4 still allow users to instruct the chatbot to read URLs and PDFs and inquire about the subject matter of the link provided.
A user of ChatGPT Plus expressed their concern on the OpenAI forum, suggesting that OpenAI’s actions seem to undermine the experience for paying subscribers. Specifically, they mentioned the removal of the Browsing feature, which they believe is an integral part of the paid Plus subscription, as it allows them to access the requested content on websites.
OpenAI has not provided a specific timeline for the reactivation of Browse with Bing, but they have assured users that they are making diligent efforts to restore this feature as soon as possible.
OpenAI expressed appreciation to the ChatGPT Plus subscribers who have been actively involved in testing the browsing feature. They acknowledged the significance of starting with a beta version, as it has provided invaluable feedback and valuable insights, enabling them to learn and improve the feature. OpenAI assured us that they will be reintroducing the browsing feature soon based on the knowledge gained from this testing phase.
