ChatGPT search is the web search feature in OpenAI's ChatGPT that answers with current pages and inline citations. Sites are indexed via OAI-SearchBot.
What is ChatGPT Search?
ChatGPT search is the capability in OpenAI’s ChatGPT that retrieves current information from the web and writes an answer with inline citations and links to source pages. ChatGPT decides when to search based on the question, and users can also trigger it manually. For publishers and brands, it is one of the largest AI answer surfaces outside Google.
OpenAI tested the idea as a prototype called SearchGPT in mid-2024, then launched ChatGPT search on October 31, 2024 for Plus and Team users. It reached logged-in free users on December 16, 2024 and, from February 5, 2025, anyone in supported regions without an account.
How it works
At a high level, based on OpenAI’s documentation:
- Indexing. OpenAI’s crawler, OAI-SearchBot, discovers and fetches pages to make them eligible for ChatGPT search. Site owners control it with robots.txt; OpenAI says changes can take about 24 hours to apply.
- Query rewriting. ChatGPT turns the user’s message, plus conversation context, into one or more search queries.
- Retrieval. It pulls results from search providers and its own systems. OpenAI has described using third-party search providers as well as its own technology, and does not publish a full list.
- Answer and citations. The model writes a response grounded in retrieved pages and shows citations inline and in a sources panel.
- User visits. When ChatGPT fetches a page in response to a user request, it may use the ChatGPT-User agent.
| User agent | Purpose | robots.txt |
|---|---|---|
| OAI-SearchBot | Surfaces sites in ChatGPT search | Respected |
| GPTBot | Crawls content that may train models | Respected |
| ChatGPT-User | User-initiated visits and actions | May not apply |
From SEO to AEO and GEO
The SEO predecessor is Bing and Google indexing: let the crawler in, earn rankings, win clicks. ChatGPT search keeps the first step (a crawler must reach you) but changes the rest. Instead of ten links, users see a written answer that cites a handful of sources, often from several sites at once, and many questions are answered without a click.
What carries over: crawlability, clean HTML, fast pages, strong rankings in traditional search engines and clear on-page facts. What changed: you need a separate crawler decision for OpenAI, your brand must be named in the answer to matter, and conversational, multi-part prompts replace short keywords.
What to do about it
- Audit robots.txt and WAF rules. Allow OAI-SearchBot explicitly if your security tools block unknown bots by default. Decide on GPTBot separately.
- Run buyer prompts in ChatGPT. Test “best [category] for [use case]” and “[you] vs [competitor]” with search on, and log citations.
- Fix factual gaps. If ChatGPT gets your pricing model or integrations wrong, update the pages it cites and your own product pages.
- Strengthen comparison and documentation pages. These are frequently cited for evaluation-stage prompts.
- Watch referral data. Monitor chatgpt.com referrals and GA4’s AI Assistant channel alongside conversions.
Common mistakes
- Blocking all OpenAI bots by reflex. This removes you from ChatGPT search answers, not just training.
- Assuming one test is representative. Answers vary between runs, accounts and locations; test repeatedly.
- Ignoring third-party sources. ChatGPT often cites review sites, forums and publications rather than vendor pages.
Related terms
- OAI-SearchBot
- GPTBot
- AI Crawler
- AI Referral Traffic
- Agentic Search
- Guide: How AI engines cite sources
Sources
- Overview of OpenAI crawlers, OpenAI
- Introducing ChatGPT search, OpenAI (Oct 31, 2024, with later updates)
- Default channel group, Google Analytics Help
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my site into ChatGPT search?
Make sure OAI-SearchBot is not blocked in robots.txt and that your server or CDN does not block it. OpenAI says sites that opt out of OAI-SearchBot will not be shown in ChatGPT search answers, though they may still appear as navigational links. Beyond access, clear, answer-first pages with verifiable facts are more likely to be cited.
Does blocking GPTBot remove me from ChatGPT search?
No. OpenAI treats them separately. GPTBot crawls content that may be used to train foundation models; OAI-SearchBot surfaces sites in ChatGPT search. You can block one and allow the other. ChatGPT-User is a third agent for user-initiated visits, and OpenAI notes robots.txt rules may not apply to it.
Can I track traffic from ChatGPT search?
Partly. Clicks often arrive with chatgpt.com as the referrer, and GA4 now groups traffic from assistants such as ChatGPT into an AI Assistant channel. However, some clicks arrive without a referrer and show up as direct, and tagging behavior has changed over time, so treat ChatGPT referral numbers as a floor.
Guides that cover ChatGPT Search
- AEO for SEO managers
AEO for SEO Managers: Adding AI Search to Your Stack and Reporting
How SEO managers add AEO: turn GSC queries into monitored prompts, run prompt research, fix AI crawler access, analyze citations and report GEO metrics.
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AI citation patternsAI Citation Patterns Explained: How ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Claude & Perplexity Choose Sources
AI citation patterns explained: how ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Claude, and Perplexity choose which sources to cite, and what it means for your content
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AI searchIs Your Content Strategy Ready for the Age of AI Search?
Discover whether your content strategy is ready for AI search and learn how to improve visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI engines.
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AI visibility tips for CMOsThe CMO's Definitive Guide to AI Visibility: How to Secure Brand Citations in the Age of Generative Search
A CMO's guide to AI visibility: how the citation economy works, what makes a brand citable by ChatGPT and Perplexity, five high-impact moves, and a checklist to track progress.
