Islamabad, Dec 20: OpenAI has introduced new ways to interact with its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, through a free phone service in the United States and global integration with WhatsApp.
As part of its “12 Days of Christmas” updates, OpenAI announced a simplified way for users to engage with AI technology. In the US, users can call ChatGPT by dialing 1-800-CHATGPT, a free service with a monthly limit of 15 minutes per phone number.
For international users, OpenAI has integrated ChatGPT with WhatsApp, enabling interaction via messages sent to 1-800-242-8478. OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, Kevin Weil, described the feature as a user-friendly introduction to AI, announced during a livestream event.
The phone service utilizes OpenAI’s Realtime API, while the WhatsApp integration is powered by GPT-4o mini through the WhatsApp API. OpenAI highlighted the low-cost accessibility of these features, designed to cater to users unfamiliar with its web-based platform.
OpenAI positions these options as entry-level methods for exploring ChatGPT, simplifying the experience compared to the full suite of features on the traditional web-based platform. It encourages advanced users needing higher limits and personalized features to continue using the web-based platform.
The initiative reflects OpenAI’s effort to make AI accessible to broader audiences, including those less familiar with technology. WhatsApp, chosen for its widespread use by over two billion people globally, adds to the feature’s appeal.
The project draws comparisons to Google’s discontinued GOOG-411 service, which collected voice samples for speech recognition. However, OpenAI clarified that data from these interactions would not train its language models, addressing privacy concerns.
Developed during a “hack week,” the new features represent a milestone in OpenAI’s mission to make AI tools approachable. This initiative aligns with OpenAI’s broader strategy of expanding ChatGPT’s reach while managing the costs of operating advanced AI systems.
Additional updates announced in December include Sora, an AI text-to-video generator, and a premium subscription offering advanced model access for $200 per month. Both the WhatsApp and phone services remain experimental, with OpenAI planning to adjust availability and usage limits based on demand.
Currently, only US users can access the phone service, while the WhatsApp integration is available globally. OpenAI will monitor feedback and refine its offerings accordingly.
