I turned on Location in ChatGPT — and it changed how I searched

Searching for something nearby online usually follows a predictable script of opening a map app, typing a few words, and scanning the resulting list. It's good for most basic hunts, but you have to really dive into reviews and keywords to narrow it down to a place with a more specific feel to it.

But combining that local search capability with ChatGPT makes the whole process easier. You can just ask "What are the best coffee shops near me?", and get a precise, targeted answer.

Location sharing is optional and can be toggled on in settings (go to Settings > Data Controls > Location Services and enable it), which will allow precise location for very specific results. It's currently for iOS and web only, with Android coming soon.

Once enabled, ChatGPT can factor in where you are for context when answering questions about nearby places and local information.

To allay privacy concerns, OpenAI says the data is used only to improve the response and then deleted, though anything generated during the conversation remains in your chat history unless you remove it.

We're going on a coffee hunt...

The information was already there, but with location enabled, the conversation feels more efficient. As a test, I asked ChatGPT for a nearby coffee shop where I could sit for a while and get some writing done without feeling rushed. A bit more than just someplace to get coffee.

Interestingly, ChatGPT did not just present a set of options based on geography, but organized them to highlight a handful of nearby spots that suited my request, even if they weren't technically just coffee shops.

“The better question here is not just which place has good coffee, but which one feels comfortable for staying a while," ChatGPT wrote. "Some cafés are set up for quick turnover, others feel more open to longer visits. If the goal is to settle in, look for the place that seems designed for sitting rather than passing through.”

I then went for something even less structured by asking for "a bookstore where I can wander for a while and maybe find something I was not already looking for." That is not a request most search tools handle gracefully. ChatGPT calmly picked a few and explained why they might fit that particular kind of afternoon.

Finally, I asked for "a place nearby where I can go for a walk without needing to plan anything. Just somewhere to be outside for a while."

ChatGPT suggested a couple of nearby parks and trails, explaining them in terms of effort and atmosphere rather than features, well aware that the goal was to find ease rather than novelty.

What ChatGPT gets right

What these responses have in common is their alignment with my vague requests. With location turned on, ChatGPT's answers pull from very specific locations that counterintuitively work for less well-defined requests.

Of course, there is a tradeoff in letting any system know where you are, even temporarily. But if you're comfortable sharing location data with Google, Meta, or other tech giants, this isn't too dissimilar.

Most search efforts, especially for locations, are about narrowing down possibilities quickly enough to act on them. The friction comes from having too many plausible choices and not enough context to choose between them.

Specific locations, like looking on Google Maps, help, but more as just another filter, which ChatGPT was keen to offer a more nuanced perspective, and thus the better answers for where you want to go.

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