The EU recognized ChatGPT as a very large online search engine

ChatGPT has been recognized as a very large online search engine

According to НВ — Техно: The European Commission officially classified ChatGPT as a very large online search engine under the EU Digital Services Act on August 31. Along with ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox also received this status. This status is granted to services that have at least 45 million users per month in EU countries.

According to the Digital Services Act adopted in 2022, OpenAI must now fulfill additional requirements regarding the assessment of systemic risks associated with the operation of ChatGPT and their mitigation. The company has four months to adapt to the new conditions. In case of non-compliance with the law, companies face fines of up to 6% of their annual global revenue.

New requirements for OpenAI

Prior to this, in the category of very large online search engines, in addition to new participants, Google Search and Microsoft Bing were included. OpenAI is required to assess the risks associated with the operation of ChatGPT, which include:

• the spread of illegal content;
• negative impact on minors;
• issues of physical and mental well-being of users.

Additionally, the risks concern fundamental rights, the impact of the service on elections, and public safety.

Among the new requirements of the Digital Services Act, aspects related to illegal content, user safety, and systemic risks are also highlighted. Last December, the European Commission fined company X 120 million euros due to issues with advertising transparency and verification badge design. Now OpenAI, along with Reddit and Roblox, must comply with new requirements within the established deadlines.

The classification of ChatGPT as a very large online search engine underscores the increasing attention of EU regulators to artificial intelligence technologies and their impact on society.

This decision may open new opportunities for monitoring risks associated with the use of such platforms, as well as provide additional protection for users. At the same time, this will pose a challenge for OpenAI to meet new requirements that may affect the further development of the service. The rules established in the Digital Services Act could set an important precedent for other technology companies in the region.

In light of the recent classification of ChatGPT as a very large online search engine, OpenAI is also taking steps to enhance user experience and safety. The launch of a new teen-focused version of ChatGPT, which includes a dedicated study mode, reflects the company's commitment to addressing user needs while complying with regulatory requirements. This development highlights the ongoing evolution of AI tools in educational contexts.