ChatGPT is now just a phone call away. OpenAI recently announced that users can connect with their chatbot by dialing 1-800-CHATGPT (242-8478). This new accessibility feature also extends to WhatsApp texting at the same number, opening up communication for users outside the U.S. While call times are capped at 15 minutes per month, this move marks a significant step towards broadening ChatGPT’s reach.
This initiative aligns with OpenAI’s recent focus on incorporating voice and video interaction into the ChatGPT experience. The existing ChatGPT app already allows users to engage with the bot visually, asking questions about camera-captured content. While this phone number approach might appear simplistic, especially considering most current users likely access ChatGPT via apps, it serves a key purpose: introducing the chatbot to a wider, less tech-savvy audience. OpenAI confirmed to The Verge that these phone and WhatsApp conversations won’t be utilized for training purposes.
While convenient, the phone and WhatsApp access provides a limited ChatGPT experience. For more comprehensive features and higher usage limits, users are still encouraged to utilize the dedicated ChatGPT app. This strategy mirrors ChatGPT’s integration with iOS through Siri, where basic queries can be handled, but the full experience requires accessing the app directly. This integration primarily serves as a promotional tool, leveraging Apple’s vast user base to introduce ChatGPT to a broader audience.
This announcement is part of OpenAI’s recent “12 Days of Shipmas” product reveal campaign. Among more substantial announcements, including the Sora video generator and the Canvas interface for ChatGPT, the phone access feature represents a smaller, yet strategically important, step in expanding ChatGPT’s accessibility.
This simpler access method potentially opens the door for a broader demographic to experience conversational AI, further solidifying ChatGPT’s presence in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence communication.
