Internet Search

Written by Martin Ågren - July 22, 2026

BENEFITS of Letting AI Search the Internet

• Save time/energy: AI searches for you

• Get up-to-date information despite knowledge cutoffs

• Can help prevent incorrect answers from AI

• Complements AI's trained knowledge

WEB SEARCH in ChatGPT

Select "Web Search" (see the image above) and type your question.
Once you have finished searching online: Remember to disable "Web Search" so that you do not force ChatGPT onto the internet unnecessarily. Otherwise, ChatGPT may produce poorer output because it has been forced to search online every time you ask a question (even when a web search was not actually necessary).

"SEARCH ONLINE" in ChatGPT

Another way to search online through ChatGPT is simply to tell ChatGPT that it should search online to find the answer to your question.

ChatGPT Searches on ITS OWN INITIATIVE

Yet another way to search online through ChatGPT is for ChatGPT to search spontaneously on its own initiative after you ask your question. However, it is a good idea not to leave this entirely to chance, because ChatGPT does not always search online when it actually should. Instead, it is better to become skilled at deciding when ChatGPT should search online and when it should not.

PERPLEXITY

• A great complement to ChatGPT. Searches better online in some cases.

• Free + No login required (GDPR-friendly)

DEEP RESEARCH in ChatGPT / Copilot

• In-depth research in English.

• Searches many websites + PDFs = Generates a report & sources

• Takes much longer than a regular chat, BUT AI does the work for you.