OpenAI has taken a temporary step to disable the Browse with Bing beta feature in its chatbot, ChatGPT after users discovered a way to bypass paywalls using the tool. The feature was introduced to enhance the search experience within ChatGPT, primarily available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. However, OpenAI noticed instances where the feature malfunctioned and inadvertently fulfilled requests for the full text of specific URLs. In response, the company disabled the feature on July 3, 2023, in order to address the issue and uphold content owners’ rights.
OpenAI had recently introduced the Browse with Bing feature in ChatGPT, which marked a significant enhancement to the platform’s search capabilities. The integration was announced during Microsoft’s developer conference, Build 2023, with the promise of leveraging Bing’s search functionality. Prior to this update, ChatGPT relied on OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, which had a knowledge cutoff of September 2021, limiting its access to up-to-date information.
Paywall bypass discovered by ChatGPT users
Soon after the introduction of the Bing integration, users of ChatGPT discovered a clever workaround to bypass paywalls on websites. By instructing the chatbot to retrieve the full text of articles behind paywalls, users were able to access the restricted content without subscribing to the respective websites. This discovery was shared within the r/ChatGPT community on Reddit, where users exchanged various tips and tricks for bypassing paywalls using ChatGPT.
Upon becoming aware of the unintended paywall bypass, OpenAI decided to temporarily disable the Browse with Bing beta feature as a precautionary measure. OpenAI acknowledged the need to rectify the situation in order to protect the rights of content owners. The company expressed its commitment to resolving the issue promptly and reinstating the feature as soon as possible.
Paywalls are commonly used by publishers to monetize their content and encourage subscriptions. The ability to bypass paywalls using ChatGPT raised concerns about potential copyright infringement and loss of revenue for content creators. While OpenAI works on addressing the paywall bypass issue, the specific measures and changes to prevent its recurrence have not been disclosed.
OpenAI’s decision to disable the Browse with Bing beta feature temporarily in ChatGPT highlights the company’s commitment to upholding content owners’ rights.. The discovery that users were bypassing paywalls using the chatbot prompted OpenAI to take swift action. As the company works on resolving the issue and improving the feature’s functionality, the future of Bing integration in ChatGPT remains uncertain. OpenAI aims to reinstate the feature while implementing measures to prevent paywall bypasses and ensure a more secure and ethical user experience.
How to disable paywalls
One developer suggests disabling javascript works for some. You may download an extension that puts a JavaScript toggle right on the menu bar. Also, very often putting it in reader mode when the page loads work successfully. Plus, get rid of a lot of ads. Search for reader mode for your specific browser.
In Chrome at least, if it is a pop-up paywall (as opposed to vanishing text), you can go to View > Developer > View Source, it shows the HTML code for the site. Sometimes you can find the text string of the article, copy and paste it to Word or email message that will text wrap. Or you can go to Firefox browser, and then tap the little paper icon in the search bar all the way on the right. Reload the page after you clicked it and it will remove the paywall. And did you know that there’s a plugin called “unpaywall”?
The point being made here is that removing the Paywall or bypassing it is very common knowledge. So, if OpenAI claims to know everything else, they should be able to figure this one out.
