OpenAI brings ChatGPT to WhatsApp

ChatGPT is now available on WhatsApp. Starting today, if you add 1 (800) CHAT-GPT to your contacts — that’s 1 (800) 242-8478 — you can start using the chatbot through Meta’s messaging app. In this iteration, ChatGPT is limited to text-only input, so no advanced voice mode or visual input is offered, but you still get all the smart features of o1-mini model.

What’s more, through WhatsApp ChatGPT is available wherever OpenAI offers its chatbot, with no account required. OpenAI is working on a way to authenticate existing users through WhatApp, though the company didn’t share a timeline for when that feature might launch. It’s worth noting that Meta offers its own chatbot WhatsApp.

Separately, OpenAI launched a ChatGPT hotline in the US. Once again, the number for this is 1 (800) 242-8478. As you can probably imagine, the toll-free number works with any phone, be it a smartphone or an old flip phone. OpenAI will offer 15 minutes of free use of ChatGPT through the hotline, but you can log into your account to get more time.

“We’re just starting to make ChatGPT more accessible to everyone,” said Kevin Weil, chief product officer at OpenAI, during the company’s latest 12 Days of OpenAI livestream. According to Weil, the two features were born out of a recent hack week the company held. Other recent live shows have seen OpenAI do ChatGPT Search available to all free users and bring your own Sora video generation outside of private review.