OpenAI brings ChatGPT to WhatsApp

ChatGPT is now available on WhatsApp. Starting today, if you add 1 (800) CHAT-GPT to your contacts — i.e. 1 (800) 242-8478 — you can start using the chatbot via Meta’s messaging app. In this iteration, ChatGPT is limited to text input only, so there’s no advanced voice or visual input mode on offer, but you still get all the smart features in o1 small model.

What’s more, via WhatsApp, ChatGPT is available everywhere OpenAI offers its chatbot, with no account required. OpenAI is working on a way to authenticate existing users via WhatApp, though the company has not shared a timeline for when the feature might launch. It should be noted that Meta offers its own chatbot WhatsApp.

Separately, OpenAI is launching a ChatGPT hotline in the US. Again, the number for this is 1 (800) 242-8478. As you can imagine, the toll-free number works with any phone, whether it’s a smartphone or an old phone. OpenAI will provide 15 minutes of ChatGPT for free through the hotline, although you can log in to your account to get more time.

“We’re just starting to make ChatGPT accessible to everyone,” said Kevin Weil, chief product officer at OpenAI, during the company’s recent 12 Days of OpenAI livestream. According to Weil, the two features stemmed from a recent hackathon week the company held. Other recent live streams have seen the creation of OpenAI Search ChatGPT Available to all users for free and offered Sora generation video Outside of private preview.