EU classifies ChatGPT as a 'Very Large Online Search Engine'

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The European Commission classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the EU's Digital Services Act on August 31st, putting OpenAI's chatbot under the same strict regulatory tier as established search engines like Google and Bing. The designation follows OpenAI reporting approximately 159.1 million average monthly users in the EU, more than three times the 45 million user threshold that triggers this level of oversight. Reddit and Roblox were separately designated as Very Large Online Platforms under the same rules

The Commission based the search engine classification specifically on ChatGPT's interactive web search features, the functionality letting users ask questions and receive answers synthesized from live internet sources, arguing that capability makes it functionally equivalent to a traditional search engine for regulatory purposes. OpenAI now faces compliance obligations including systemic risk assessments covering illegal content, protection of minors, and impacts on users' mental health, independent audits, and data access requirements for researchers, with compliance required by January 2027 or fines of up to 6 percent of global annual turnover

European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen said the new designations mean ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny given their large impact on citizens and society. The designation is a legal classification triggering new obligations rather than a finding that ChatGPT has broken any law. Curious what people think about regulators applying search engine rules to an AI chatbot, does that framework actually fit how people use conversational AI, or does it force an awkward regulatory square peg into a round hole

EU classifies ChatGPT as 'Very Large Online Search Engine' under DSAwww.business-standard.com