ChatGPT search has begun using domain-specific filtering at scale, with Promptwatch data showing site:operator usage jumped from ~0.5% to 16-17% following the GPT-5.6 rollout on August 8. The change aligns with OpenAI's August 6th announcement to make GPT-5.6 Sol more fact-reliable and focused, likely via a domains-based search approach rather than direct site: operator use.
Background
Promptwatch is a tool in the emerging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) space that tracks how AI chatbots respond to prompts and publish aggregate reports on product changes. OpenAI has increasingly been rolling out updates to its search capabilities within ChatGPT while keeping system-level details opaque.
- Source
- Simon Willison
- Published
- Aug 21, 2026 at 07:57 AM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10