OpenAI has a series of new features. And after announcing ChatGPT Pro, the free Canvas functionality or the possibility of using live video on ChatGPT’s voice mode, it makes its technology more accessible. In the United States, ChatGPT becomes accessible without an internet connection. How ? By calling a telephone number.
This new feature is available in the United States and Canada. But for the rest of the world (in countries where ChatGPT is available), it still becomes possible to chat with OpenAI’s AI, using WhatsApp. To contact ChatGPT on WhatsApp, simply write to the phone number that is in the screenshot below (1-800-242-8478). ChatGPT will respond to your texts, but, of course, this interface does not replace the application.
Indeed, to access certain features, such as the search engine, Canvas or the personalization functions, it remains essential to use the ChatGPT application or website and log in to an account.
A way to compete with Meta AI?
In any case, the integration of ChatGPT into WhatsApp makes artificial intelligence more accessible, at a time when OpenAI faces increasingly tough competition. As a reminder, Google already integrates its Gemini chatbot into Android’s default messaging application. And the Meta group is integrating its Meta AI assistant, based on Llama models, into its apps and services, including WhatsApp. Moreover, recently, Meta indicated that its Meta AI assistant already has 600 million active users per month. Meta’s Llama models, offered as open source, are also among the most popular technologies in the world. In August, the number of downloads of Llama models approached 350 million.
Alternatively, it is also possible that the availability of an official version of ChatGPT on WhatsApp aims to increase the popularity of this AI in countries where WhatsApp’s market shares are highest. Moreover, it should be noted that ChatGPT models were already available on WhatsApp, via third-party services which use OpenAI’s (paid) APIs.
- OpenAI makes ChatGPT even more accessible, by offering a telephone number that allows you to call your AI when you don’t have an internet connection
- In the rest of the world, OpenAI offers a version of ChatGPT on WhatsApp
- This should allow OpenAI to face competition from Meta AI, which is already integrated into WhatsApp
- Google is also integrating its Gemini chatbot into Android’s default messaging app
