OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT to WhatsApp for the first time, and it's completely free! This new feature allows users to chat with ChatGPT just like they would with a real person or the built-in AI on the Meta messaging platform.

This is the tenth release in OpenAI's "12 Days of Surprises" event. OpenAI stated that some of the releases would be significant like Sora, while others would be "little surprises."

Today's release enables people around the world to add the contact 1-800-CHATGPT (1-800-242-8478) in WhatsApp. This provides a way for users with limited data access to utilize AI.

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WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps globally, with over 2.7 billion users, and it is expected to surpass 3 billion next year. This is an important platform for OpenAI, especially considering the growing popularity of MetaAI.

In the United States, users can have voice conversations with AI by calling ChatGPT. This technology is based on the same technology behind the Realtime API.

In some parts of the world, maintaining a high-speed data connection can be expensive or nearly impossible, leading people to turn to applications like WhatsApp to access data services that don't require a constant connection.

With ChatGPT on WhatsApp, users can ask questions just like they would in a conversation with a real person, without the network overhead of the ChatGPT app.

This feature uses the same GPT-4o-mini model as the free version of ChatGPT.

OpenAI provided examples of how to use it to seek "help with creative writing or brainstorming, offer suggestions (recipes, travel ideas, etc.), or chat about general topics like news, hobbies, or trivia."

The company stated that this is an experimental release, which may impose rate limits and reduce availability based on demand. "For a more complete experience with more tools, higher limits, and more personalization, existing users should continue using ChatGPT directly through their accounts," the company added.