OpenAI has launched the perfect holiday gift for those who use its artificial intelligence. The company announced that ChatGPT is now available on WhatsApp, allowing users to chat with it for inquiries and obtain relevant information. This new implementation is part of the “12 Days of OpenAI” program and will be free for everyone.
Expanding Access: ChatGPT Joins WhatsApp
If you’re a fan of ChatGPT and frequently use the application on your mobile device or on the web, you can now access an additional platform. In an effort to broaden the reach of its artificial intelligence, OpenAI has revealed that anyone in the world can use ChatGPT via WhatsApp. To do so, you’ll just need to add it to your contact list, and it will always be there.
The company, led by Sam Altman, emphasized its efforts to bring ChatGPT to all users. A few months ago, OpenAI opened access to its artificial intelligence chatbot to all users without requiring them to sign up with an account. The next step is placing it on a platform with over 2.78 billion active users worldwide.
Voice Calls: An Unexpected Feature
Despite the significance of the messaging application, today’s highlight wasn’t WhatsApp. OpenAI focused its announcement on the ability to call ChatGPT from a mobile device through a conventional voice call. This feature allows anyone to access the advanced voice assistant—the same one used in the app—which will respond like a human thanks to the capabilities of the language model.
Due to their nature, voice calls to ChatGPT don’t require a user account, although they come with a drawback. This feature is limited to users in the United States, perhaps the only country unaware that life exists beyond iMessage or FaceTime.
How to Use ChatGPT on WhatsApp
Using ChatGPT on WhatsApp doesn’t require an OpenAI account. Simply follow these easy steps that will allow you to chat with artificial intelligence. It’s important to note that voice calls are not permitted, only text messages.
- Open your Contacts app and add the following number: +1 800 242 8478 (this is a U.S. number).
- Once saved, open WhatsApp and search for ChatGPT in your contact list.
- Send any question and wait for AI’s response, just as you would in the official app or on the web.
ChatGPT uses the WhatsApp Business API, so it will appear as a business account. Unlike voice calls in the United States—which have a limit of 15 minutes per month—users can send as many messages as they want via WhatsApp.
The Future of Messaging Integration
OpenAI revealed that it’s exploring how to integrate user accounts with the messaging application but did not provide an availability date.
