ChatGPT can now be used not only on smartphones but also on regular landlines and the social media platform WhatsApp.
OpenAI announced on the 18th that it has launched a feature that allows ChatGPT to be used through landlines. Starting that day, users in the United States can call ‘1-800-242-8478’ (1-800-CHATGPT), where ChatGPT will respond and provide answers to the user’s questions or translate sentences into different languages. This service enables natural conversations through the Advanced Voice Mode, but features related to images or videos are not supported.
OpenAI noted that it offers users in the United States 15 minutes of free currency, after which standard telecommunications charges may apply. Kevin Weil, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of OpenAI, said, “OpenAI’s goal is to create artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits all of humanity,” adding, “As part of this goal, we are making ChatGPT accessible to more people.”
On the same day, the ChatGPT service also launched on Meta Platforms' WhatsApp. WhatsApp, which has 2 billion monthly active users, is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, and with the introduction of this service, users can now engage in basic question-and-answer conversations with ChatGPT. However, features such as image analysis and web search are not yet available, but OpenAI explained that it plans to introduce additional functionalities in the future.
OpenAI has recently accelerated its technological expansion by unveiling a series of new features, including a $200 monthly plan for ChatGPT Pro, a video-generating AI called Sora, and the visual capabilities of ChatGPT. Weil, the CPO, emphasized, “We have only just begun our journey to make ChatGPT accessible to more people.”