Full Transparency: How Our ChatGPT Search Really Works
We believe you deserve to know exactly how we check your website's visibility. Here's the complete technical breakdown of our ChatGPT search feature.
The Honest Truth About Our ChatGPT Search
When you run a "ChatGPT" search on GEO Butler, you might expect we're directly accessing ChatGPT's native search feature. We're not - and we want to be completely transparent about what we're actually doing and why.
Our "ChatGPT" search uses OpenAI's GPT-4 API to analyze Google search results. While this provides similar insights to ChatGPT's search behavior, it's technically an emulation rather than native ChatGPT search access.
How It Works Under the Hood
We Fetch Real Google Search Results
First, we use the DataForSEO Google Search API to get real, authentic Google search results for your query. This gives us the same organic search results that appear in Google.
We Send Results to GPT-4 for Analysis
We then send the top 8 Google results to OpenAI's GPT-4.1-mini model via the OpenAI Chat Completions API. We specifically instruct GPT-4 to analyze these results and provide a helpful answer with inline citations, similar to how ChatGPT search works.
GPT-4 Generates Analysis with Citations
GPT-4 analyzes the search results and generates a conversational response with numbered citations [1], [2], [3], etc., pointing to specific sources. This mimics ChatGPT's search behavior while using Google's data instead of ChatGPT's native search partnerships.
Where the Data Actually Comes From
Search Results: Google via DataForSEO
We use DataForSEO's Google Organic Search API to retrieve real-time Google search results. This is the same data you'd see if you searched on Google yourself.
View DataForSEO API DocumentationAI Analysis: OpenAI GPT-4.1-mini
We use OpenAI's GPT-4.1-mini model through their Chat Completions API. This model analyzes the Google results and generates helpful responses.
View OpenAI Models DocumentationWhy We Use This Approach
You might wonder: why not use ChatGPT's native search feature? Here's why:
No Native ChatGPT Search API
As of January 2025, OpenAI does not offer API access to ChatGPT's native search feature. The web browsing capability in ChatGPT Plus is only available through the web interface, not the API.
More Transparent Data Sources
By using Google search results, we can show you exactly where the data comes from. ChatGPT's native search uses partnerships with various search providers (like Bing) but doesn't expose which provider was used for each query.
Consistent, Reliable Results
Using Google as our data source provides consistent baseline data across all our search types, making it easier to compare your visibility across different AI platforms.
How Authentic Is This Data?
Here's our honest assessment of authenticity:
Search Results: 100% Authentic
The Google search results are completely real and come directly from Google's search index via DataForSEO's official API. These are the exact same results you'd see searching on Google.
AI Analysis: Emulated ChatGPT Behavior
The AI-generated response mimics ChatGPT's search behavior but isn't from ChatGPT's native search feature. However, since we use GPT-4 (the same model family), the analysis quality and style are very similar to what ChatGPT would produce.
Data Privacy and Security
Understanding how we handle your data is crucial:
- OpenAI API Data Policy: By default, OpenAI does not train on data submitted through their API. Your search queries are kept for 30 days for abuse detection, then deleted.
- DataForSEO: Search queries are processed in real-time and not stored long-term. The API simply returns Google's public search results.
- Our Platform: We store your search results in our database so you can track changes over time, but we never share this data with third parties.
The Technical Implementation
For developers and technical users, here's a simplified view of our code (from search_functions.py):
def gpt_search(query):
# Step 1: Get Google search results
google_results = google_search(query)
# Step 2: Send to GPT-4 for analysis
response = openai.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4.1-mini",
messages=[
{"role": "system", "content": "Analyze search results..."},
{"role": "user", "content": f"Query: {query}\n\nResults: {google_results}"}
]
)
# Step 3: Parse citations and return formatted results
return parse_and_format_response(response)Comparing to Real ChatGPT Search
How does our approach compare to using ChatGPT Plus with native search enabled?
| Feature | Our ChatGPT Search | Native ChatGPT Search |
|---|---|---|
| AI Model | GPT-4.1-mini via API | GPT-4 variants (web interface) |
| Search Data Source | Google (via DataForSEO) | Multiple providers (Bing, others) |
| Response Style | Conversational with citations | Conversational with citations |
| Transparency | Fully documented APIs | Search providers not disclosed |
| Tracking Over Time | Full history in dashboard | No tracking capability |
Our Commitment to Transparency
We believe the GEO industry needs more transparency about data sources and methodologies. That's why we're openly sharing:
- Exactly which APIs we use for each search type
- Where the underlying data originates
- How we process and analyze that data
- The limitations and authenticity of each approach
Questions About Our Data Sources?
We're happy to discuss our technical implementation in more detail. Transparency builds trust, and we want you to have complete confidence in the data you're using to make business decisions.