You can make ChatGPT your default search engine in Chrome. Here's how

The biggest benefit of using an AI chatbot is being able to input and receive conversational queries. Combine that with real-time access to the Internet, and you have a more efficient search engine. That’s exactly what ChatGPT Search is — and now you can make it your default search engine. 

With ChatGPT Search, your results look similar to those of the standard ChatGPT chatbot. The major differences are that it includes in-line citations to websites, a button that says “sources,” which, when clicked, will populate a long list of links on the right, and a couple of search result links underneath the answer. 

Also: ChatGPT has officially replaced Google Search for me – here’s why

ChatGPT Search can be accessed through the regular ChatGPT interface as long as you are a ChatGPT Plus or Teams subscriber or were on the waitlist for SearchGPT. If you have access to ChatGPT Search and are ready to commit to always using ChatGPT instead of Google, you can do so by installing the free Chrome extension. 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls the feature “really good” and encourages users to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month and comes with other perks such as the new Voice Mode, Canvas, and unlimited image generation, and download the Chrome Extension. 

If you are ready to make the switch, it’s easy. All you have to do is visit this link, which will take you to the ChatGPT Search page on the Chrome web store. If you are already in ChatGPT, you can also click on your profile in the upper right-hand corner and click on the option “Download Chrome extension,” which will take you to the same page. 

Then, click “Add to Chrome.” Once you do, a ChatGPT Search pop-up will appear, letting you know that the extension will “Read and change your data on all chatgpt.com sites.” Click “add extension” on the pop-up to finish the process. 

Also: The best AI search engines: Google, Perplexity, and more

After you do so, your Chrome interface will look the same; however, when you enter something in the search bar, you will see that it is redirected automatically to ChatGPT Search. For example, I entered “ZDNET,” and the results below came up. 

Some use cases where SearchGPT excels are when working on a research paper or project that involves examining many newer topics. It can break down the material in a much simpler way to understand and narrow down the number of links you have to sift through. 

However, for some prompts — such as anything shopping-related — Google is still the best alternative. For example, when I entered “Best coats for winter,” the ChatGPT results populated a list of jackets with links to the websites that recommended them — see below.

I prefer to see clickable links to the sites so that I can visit the sites myself, see the prices, and browse on my own. For that reason, I think the Google Shopping experience is better suited for shopping queries. 

A possible workaround is turning the ChatGPT extension on and off, depending on your current search needs. Yes, this is an extra step, but it’s a simple one: Simply click on the extension next to your search bar, click on manage extension, and toggle it off. 

Should you keep ChatGPT on by default and turn it off for specific queries where Google is preferred, or the other way around? That depends on your particular needs. I’m keeping Google as my default search engine because, daily, I rely on a traditional search engine results page for my job. 

However, I’m not uninstalling the extension because I find it helpful, especially in situations where I want to learn more about a subject, as ChatGPT answers conversationally and saves me time from skimming multiple articles. I will toggle it on before these deep-dive sessions. 

Also: I changed 5 ChatGPT settings and instantly became more productive – here’s how

If you are already a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, you may as well take advantage of the extension to try it out since it is free and offers a glimpse of the future of search engines. Even though search engines have remained relatively untouched for decades, with Google being the undisputed leader, they are now at a turning point.

All search engines — brand-new AI tools like Perplexity or ChatGPT Search and traditional search engines like Google or Bing — are becoming AI-infused to some degree. If you are a ChatGPT user, the extension is a good way to dip your toes in the future.