Conversing with ChatGPT via WhatsApp Now Possible
OpenAI Announces New Feature
PARIS: OpenAI has announced that it’s now possible to converse with its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, from any phone in the USA and Canada, whether or not you are a subscriber to the platform. Elsewhere in the world, ChatGPT is accessible via WhatsApp.
Calling ChatGPT
To call ChatGPT, people in the US and Canada can simply dial 1-800-ChatGPT (or 1-800-242-8478). As such, you don’t need a smartphone to use ChatGPT, let alone an internet connection. For those who don’t already have a ChatGPT account, calls are limited to 15 minutes per month. You can then chat with the bot in a natural way, asking a whole host of practical or general knowledge questions, from travel advice to gift ideas, for example.
Chatting with ChatGPT via WhatsApp
Elsewhere in the world, users can chat with ChatGPT directly in WhatsApp, by creating a new contact and assigning it the same US phone number. Users can then exchange messages with the chatbot, whether to ask for help with a professional project, get recipe recommendations, or simply chat about the weather.
Experimental and Limited
For the moment, it’s still quite experimental, and in times of high demand, the service may be temporarily unavailable. This version of ChatGPT remains rather limited, with no personalisation features or access to the search engine, but it could nonetheless be a gateway to the world of generative artificial intelligence for many people.
Competitive Landscape
WhatsApp is said to have over two billion monthly active users worldwide, while ChatGPT boasts 300 million per week. With this move, OpenAI is also stepping on the toes of Meta, the publisher of WhatsApp, which has already integrated its own AI into the application. Currently, Meta AI is on hand to answer a multitude of questions and be a source of inspiration. This AI is available in 22 countries and in several languages, although still not in the European Union. Meta is nevertheless working to resolve these compliance issues to enable future availability of Meta AI in the region.
Recent Developments
The last few days have been particularly busy for OpenAI, with the launch of the video-generation tool Sora, and availability of ChatGPT’s integrated web search engine extended to all users.
Conclusion
The integration of ChatGPT with WhatsApp marks an exciting development in the world of artificial intelligence. With its vast user base and ease of use, WhatsApp is an ideal platform for people to access and interact with ChatGPT. While this feature is still experimental and limited, it has the potential to open up new possibilities for people to engage with AI technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I access ChatGPT via WhatsApp?
Create a new contact and assign it the same US phone number, then exchange messages with the chatbot. - Is ChatGPT available in all regions?
No, it is currently available in the USA and Canada, and via WhatsApp in other regions. - What are the limitations of this feature?
The current version of ChatGPT is experimental and limited, with no personalisation features or access to the search engine. - What is the purpose of this feature?
To provide a gateway to the world of generative artificial intelligence for many people.