The EU called ChatGPT a search engine. SEA’s AI startups should worry about what comes next
On 31 August, the European Commission did something no regulator had done before: it looked at a generative AI chatbot and decided it was, legally speaking, a search engine. ChatGPT was designated a “Very Large Online Search Engine” under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), placing OpenAI’s flagship product in the same supervisory tier as […] The post The EU called ChatGPT a search engine. SEA’s…
On 31 August, the European Commission treated a generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, as a search engine for the first time ever, classifying it as a "Very Large Online Search Engine" under the Digital Services Act. This move placed OpenAI's product in the same supervisory category as Google Search, Reddit, and Roblox. The classification hinges on ChatGPT's search feature, which attracted about 159 million average monthly users in the EU, far exceeding the 45-million user threshold that triggers strict DSA regulations.
OpenAI now has until the end of November to conduct risk assessments, submit to audits, and allow vetted researchers to inspect its systems. Initially, these obligations only applied to platforms like Instagram or Google Search, but not to a chatbot that creates original text. However, the real concern for Southeast Asian AI startups lies in the potential replication of this EU approach across the region.
Written by urgent.news from e27's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
