ChatGPT reaches top 10 global websites as search features expand

On February 9, 2025, Similarweb's global web traffic data revealed ChatGPT has achieved its highest ranking yet among the world's most visited websites. This milestone comes as OpenAI continues expanding its search capabilities, which were initially launched on October 31, 2024.

According to OpenAI's Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil, the company has implemented significant technical improvements to their search functionality. The system now automatically determines when queries require current information from the web, while providing source attribution and rich visual content directly within the chat interface.

A key development in the platform's evolution occurred in December 2024, when OpenAI made search features available to all logged-in free users globally. Christina Scheau, who leads engineering and applied research for search technology at OpenAI, confirmed the integration of search capabilities with Advanced Voice Mode, enabling users to access up-to-date web information through voice interactions.

The mobile experience has undergone substantial enhancement based on user feedback. Adam Fry, product lead for search at OpenAI, demonstrated new features including enhanced business information displays and native map integration for location-based queries. The mobile interface now provides detailed business information such as operating hours and contact details.

OpenAI's search implementation leverages multiple services, with Bing playing a significant role in the system. The partnership represents a strategic move in the competitive landscape of AI-powered search solutions. Users can now set ChatGPT as their default search engine through browser settings, with optimized link presentation and streamlined navigation to common web destinations.

Technical improvements extend beyond search capabilities. The company has achieved approximately 90% reduction in inference costs over the past year. Additionally, OpenAI is actively working on expanding model context windows and improving performance in non-English languages.

SVP of Research Mark Chen addressed the ongoing challenge of reducing hallucinations, noting progress through improved citation capabilities and reinforcement learning techniques. The company believes current hardware infrastructure is sufficient for advancing their artificial intelligence development goals.

Looking ahead, OpenAI's leadership team identified AI agents as a major focus for 2025. These autonomous systems could potentially perform tasks independently and integrate workflows across applications. The company is also preparing for enterprise adoption, with HIPAA compliance in development for their enterprise products.

OpenAI maintains a requirement for users to log in to access certain features. While ChatGPT remains accessible without an account, premium features such as search and canvas require authentication. Logged-in free users receive higher rate limits compared to anonymous users.

The system includes built-in source attribution, displaying information sources and providing links to original content. Rich visual content, including images and business information cards, is integrated directly into chat responses. The company emphasized its commitment to incorporating user feedback in future updates.

Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, commented on February 9, 2025, regarding the latest web traffic rankings, acknowledging there remains "still a long way to go to run down google." This statement came in response to Similarweb's published data showing ChatGPT's position among the top 10 most visited websites globally.

While the O-series models, including O1 and its successors, will receive updates for multimodality and tool use in the coming months, OpenAI has confirmed there are no immediate plans for a GPT-5 release. The company continues to focus on improving existing capabilities while making their models more efficient.

The developments align with OpenAI's broader strategy to enhance capabilities across platforms. For enterprise customers, upcoming features include HIPAA compliance and various partnership opportunities. The company has expressed openness to working with specialized consulting firms to accelerate AI adoption across industries.