OpenAI Temporarily Disables ChatGPT’s Browse with Bing Feature to Prevent Paywall Bypass
In Brief
OpenAI has temporarily halted the “Browse with Bing” feature, which allowed users to access real-time information from Microsoft’s Bing search engine for more up-to-date responses.
The feature raised concerns over its potential for bypassing paywalls.
OpenAI has temporarily suspended ChatGPT’s “Browse with Bing” due to concerns about potential misuse. Since July 3, the beta feature previously accessible to premium ChatGPT Plus subscribers has become inactive.
The feature allowed users to access real-time information through Microsoft’s Bing search engine, enabling more up-to-date responses. However, concerns emerged regarding the potential misuse of this feature, particularly in circumventing paywalls for premium content.
Paywalls encourage users to subscribe to a website, restricting non-subscribers from accessing certain content. As Windows Central discovered, members of the r/ChatGPT community on Reddit have found a method to circumvent paywalls and gain access to the content without subscriptions. In the Reddit thread, users shared various tricks they employ to bypass paywalls, including ChatGPT prompts to generate the text from articles hidden behind paywalls.
In a statement, OpenAI wrote that “Browse with Bing” was disabled “out of an abundance of caution while we fix this in order to do right by content owners.” The team added that they’ll return the feature “as quickly as possible.”
OpenAI introduced a plugin in May, allowing ChatGPT Plus users to use Microsoft Bing as the default search engine on ChatGPT. ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20/month, provides uninterrupted access to ChatGPT, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements.
OpenAI possibly decided to disable the feature after facing pressure from copyright holders. However, some users are disappointed and insecure about the future of ChatGPT, as the company should be more transparent and accountable for its decisions.
Microsoft unveiled its AI-powered browser, featuring ChatGPT integration, at its annual developer’s conference in February. By understanding natural language queries, the ChatGPT-powered AI browser provides responsive and up-to-date information, surpassing the limitations of traditional keyword-based search methods.
Read more:
- Microsoft and OpenAI’s plan to take on Google with Bing-powered by ChatGPT
- Opera Introduces a New AI-Powered Browser, Opera One
- StackOverflow bans users from posting AI-generated responses from ChatGPT
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About The Author
Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on [email protected].
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Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on [email protected].
