OpenAI chose Microsoft Bing as the default search engine for its premium ChatGPT Plus service. This deepens the ties with a company that has become a key investor over the past four years.

Yusuf Mehdi, head of consumer marketing with Microsoft, explained that the latest collaboration will speed the delivery of search results and improve their provenance. “Now, ChatGPT answers can be grounded by search and web data and include citations so you can learn more”.

While the move is initially open to paying ChatGPT users, OpenAI plans to extend access to those employing the free version through a plug-in. Mehdi stated developers could submit plug-ins for business and consumer services including Microsoft’s various copilot offerings, alongside its search engine and ChatGPT.