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Luu, T.J.

ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale

infonewsLLM-Specific

industry

Source: Simon Willison's WeblogAugust 20, 2026

Summary

ChatGPT's search feature began using the site: operator (a command that limits search results to a specific website) much more frequently after the GPT-5.6 update in early August 2026, jumping from 0.3-0.5% to 16-17% of queries. OpenAI announced this change was meant to make ChatGPT more reliable with facts and provide more focused answers, though the exact implementation details remain unclear because OpenAI keeps its system prompts (the instructions that guide an AI's behavior) hidden from the public.

Classification

Attack SophisticationModerate

AI Component TargetedAPI

Affected Vendors

OpenAI

Related Issues

high

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Original source: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/20/chatgpt-search-now-uses-the-siteoperator-at-scale/

First tracked: August 21, 2026 at 02:01 AM

Classified by LLM (prompt v3) · confidence: 85%