What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's what you need to know
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot. The language model can answer questions and assist you with tasks, such as composing emails, essays, and code.
Also: How to use ChatGPT: What you need to know now
It's currently open to use by the public for free. A paid subscription version called ChatGPT Plus launched at the beginning of February.
Who made ChatGPT?
ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, an AI and research company. The company launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
Also: 7 advanced ChatGPT prompt-writing tips you need to know
OpenAI is also responsible for creating DALL-E 2, a popular AI art generator, and Whisper, an automatic speech recognition system.
How can you access ChatGPT?
You can access ChatGPT simply by visiting chat.openai.com and creating an OpenAI account.
You can also still use the old URL for the chatbot, which is chat.openai.com/chat. OpenAI simplified the original URL for user convenience.
Also: 6 skills you need to become an AI prompt engineer
Once you sign in, you can start chatting away with ChatGPT. Get your conversation started by asking a question. You can ask as many questions as you'd like.
For step-by-step instructions, check out ZDNET's guide on how to start using ChatGPT.
You can also access ChatGPT via an app on your iPhone or Android.
Is there a ChatGPT app?
Yes, an official ChatGPT app is available for both iPhone and Android users.
Also: Don't get scammed by fake ChatGPT apps: Here's what to look out for
However, when looking on the app store, make sure to download the app that is created by OpenAI because there are a plethora of copycat fake apps listed on the App Store and Play Store that are not ChatGPT-affiliated.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
ChatGPT is free to use, regardless of what you use it for, including writing, coding, and much more.
There is a subscription option that users can take advantage of that costs $20/month. The paid subscription model guarantees users extra perks, such as general access even at capacity, access to GPT-4, faster response times, and access to the internet through plugins.
Also: How to access, install, and use AI ChatGPT-4 plugins (and why you should)
However, the free version is still a solid option as it has mostly the same technical abilities, with the exception of access to the latest version of the large language model (LLM), known as GPT-4, and the internet, which the subscription model guarantees.
I tried using ChatGPT and it says it's at capacity. What does that mean?
The website operates using a server, and when too many people hop onto the server, it overloads and can't process your request.
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Try visiting the site at a later time when fewer people are trying to access the server. You can also keep the tab open and just refresh it periodically.
If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, there is an option for you. ChatGPT Plus allows users to have general access even during peak times, experience faster response times, and have priority access to new features and improvements, including OpenAI's most advanced LLM, GPT-4.
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You can also try using Bing's AI chatbot, Bing Chat. This chatbot is free to use, runs on GPT-4, does not have wait times, and has access to the internet.
How are people using ChatGPT?
ChatGPT has many functions in addition to answering simple questions. ChatGPT can compose essays, describe art in great detail, create AI art prompts, have philosophical conversations, and even code for you.
Also: 5 ways to use chatbots to make your life easier
My personal favorite use is asking the chatbot for help creating basic lists for chores, such as packing and grocery shopping, and to-do lists that make my daily life more productive. The possibilities are endless.
ZDNET has published many ChatGPT how-to guides. Here are some of the most popular. How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT runs on a language model architecture created by OpenAI called the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). The specific GPT used by ChatGPT is fine-tuned from a model in the GPT-3.5 series, according to OpenAI.
However, with a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, you can access ChatGPT with GPT-4, Open AI's most advanced model.
Also: Here's a deep dive into how ChatGPT works
Generative AI models of this type are trained on vast amounts of information from the internet, including websites, books, news articles, and more.
The language model was fine-tuned using supervised learning as well as reinforcement learning. The use of Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) is what makes ChatGPT especially unique.