Using ChatGPT for browsing and real-time web research: what works and where
- Graziano Stefanelli
- Sep 13
- 5 min read
ChatGPT’s browsing capabilities have evolved beyond simple web lookups. As of mid-2025, users can choose between multiple search-related tools: the standard Browse with Bing feature, a Shopping Search experience designed for product discovery, and the more advanced Agent Mode, which allows for on-page interaction and automation. Depending on the user’s subscription tier, platform, and region, each of these modes unlocks specific real-time research workflows. This article explores how each feature works, where it's available, and what users can expect from ChatGPT’s real-time internet access capabilities.
Browse with Bing is available to all users and serves as the default web search tool.
The core browsing feature in ChatGPT is called Browse with Bing, and it is available across free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans. Users access it by selecting a model like GPT-4o or GPT-5 and enabling the “Search (Browse)” tool from the right-side tool selector.
Browse mode allows ChatGPT to:
Retrieve fresh web results from indexed public pages
Summarize content with numbered citations
Pull contextual snippets from open-access sources
Ignore restricted or paywalled material (with disclaimers shown)
The browsing experience is consistent across desktop and mobile apps. When a query is sent, ChatGPT fetches and filters live content using a real-time index powered by Bing’s search infrastructure. Search results typically include 3 to 6 numbered citations, which users can click to view the original sources.
Browse mode works well for:
Finding recent news, especially in breaking stories
Tracking industry updates, conference pages, or product releases
Exploring FAQs, blog summaries, and public research
Comparing public stances on topics across media outlets
It does not allow ChatGPT to access private documents, paywalled content, or login-gated resources. In such cases, a summarized message is shown instead.
Agent Mode enables web page interaction, data extraction, and form filling.
For users on Plus ($20/mo), Pro ($200/mo), or Team plans, ChatGPT also offers Agent Mode, a higher-level capability that turns the assistant into an interactive browser agent.
Agent Mode can be launched using:
Tools menu → Agent (or)
Command: /agent in the chat input
Once active, the agent opens a visual browser and can:
Click links and navigate between pages
Fill out forms, such as search fields or login prompts (with user assistance)
Scrape structured content, like tables or product specs
Generate clickable screenshots or follow-up summaries
Agent Mode is particularly suited for:
Comparing data across multiple websites
Tracking live dashboards or GitHub repositories
Visiting regulatory sites and pulling official documentation
Navigating product filters and site-specific UIs (e.g., filtering academic databases)
Access to Agent Mode is subject to monthly task caps:
Each “task” refers to a single launched session. Agent Mode will pause when it reaches log-in pages or block-listed domains and prompt the user for confirmation before continuing.
The Shopping Search vertical enhances consumer queries with structured product data.
In early 2025, OpenAI introduced a specialized Shopping Search feature built into Browse mode. This feature returns product cards with:
Images and product names
Prices and star ratings
Brief descriptions
Merchant links (Amazon, Walmart, etc.)
Shopping Search is available to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier, and is automatically activated when the assistant detects a product-related question (e.g., “best noise-cancelling headphones under $300”).
This mode is especially helpful when users want a quick overview of options and do not need the AI to visit third-party websites directly.
Citation management varies between tools but remains transparent for users.
All of ChatGPT’s browsing tools display source information, but the format depends on the tool:
Browse with Bing → Citations appear as numbered footnotes, linked to open-access sources.
Agent Mode → Returns clickable screenshots, direct links, or a block of summarized references.
API users → Must use the Assistants endpoint to receive citations in output; Chat Completions endpoint does not return citations natively.
This structured citation handling ensures users can verify the information and track it to original documents or sites.
Regional restrictions and privacy standards shape browsing accessibility.
OpenAI has made Browse and Agent tools available globally, with a few exceptions. As of August 2025:
Browse mode is not available in ~20 countries that have local AI bans or content restrictions.
OpenAI complies with EU Digital Services Act (DSA) transparency rules, providing a public registry of active regions.
The Shopping Search feature is live worldwide, but merchant integration may differ by country.
All browsing activities are processed with privacy compliance in mind. OpenAI filters out sensitive data and applies safe-browsing guardrails to prevent unsafe content display.
Agent Mode and Browse are both powerful, but suited to different workflows.
While Browse mode is ideal for quick searches, Agent Mode shines in longer workflows where site interaction or on-page reading is required.
Prompt patterns and best practices enhance the browsing experience.
To get the most out of ChatGPT’s real-time web features, users should adopt prompt structures tailored to each mode.
For Browse mode:
“Search news after July 15, 2025 about NVIDIA earnings.”
“What are the latest updates on Gemini 2.5 Pro since August?”
For Agent Mode:
“Open the top three academic research portals and summarize how they define carbon accounting.”
“Visit the OECD BEPS documentation page and compare the latest GloBE implementation guides.”
For blended use:
Upload a PDF and say: “Use /agent to find updated statistics that replace Table 3 in this document.”
These prompt strategies allow users to align real-time research with file uploads, citations, and comparative analysis.
ChatGPT’s real-time browsing stack offers flexibility across user levels and tasks.
In 2025, ChatGPT delivers a three-layer browsing experience: basic searching via Browse with Bing, product discovery via Shopping Search, and site automation via Agent Mode. Each feature is embedded in the same user interface and accessible depending on subscription level. Whether users need to fact-check, summarize a report, visit official websites, or scrape product pages, ChatGPT offers a controlled, verifiable path to do so—without compromising transparency or security.
Agent Mode is becoming a defining feature for professional use cases, while Browse remains efficient for everyday searches. Together, they anchor ChatGPT’s positioning as a real-time reasoning and research engine across the web.
____________
FOLLOW US FOR MORE.
DATA STUDIOS