When a user dialed 1-800-CHATGPT on Wednesday, a female voice on the other end shared a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and summarized the Civil War, but it avoided personal conversation. “I don’t have feelings, but I do find my job pretty interesting,” the chatbot said. ChatGPT, launched over two years ago as an online chat-capable AI bot, is now accessible via phone. By calling 1-800-242-8478 in the US, users can try OpenAI’s chatbot without downloading the app, which the company announced is particularly useful for those lacking consistent access to high-speed data. Globally, users can also interact with ChatGPT by messaging the number on WhatsApp.
OpenAI provides 15 minutes per month for users to call ChatGPT, describing the feature as an “experimental way” to interact with the AI, though it offers less personalization compared to the app. Developed in just a few weeks as part of OpenAI’s “12 Days of OpenAI” campaign, the feature has raised questions about potential over-reliance on its human-like voice technology. OpenAI requires users to agree to its Terms of Use and privacy policy before using the service, which includes clauses about data collection and safety reviews.
Amid these advancements, OpenAI faces intense competition and pressure to become profitable, contending with Google’s innovative AI tools, Elon Musk’s xAI, Meta AI, and Microsoft’s Bing, which incorporates OpenAI’s technology. In October, OpenAI secured $6.6 billion in funding, bringing its valuation to $157 billion. When asked about profitability, the chatbot humorously remarked that while OpenAI plans to achieve it, “I don’t handle any money myself.”