In a completely unforeseen move, OpenAI has made ChatGPT available at 1-800-ChatGPT. For users in the US and Canada, this means that you can call the above number and have a conversation with ChatGPT.

However, in other countries, you can access ChatGPT on WhatsApp using the above number. To use the feature, you don't even have to connect your ChatGPT account and it is completely free to use. So, you can now converse with the chatbot, ask it questions, seek suggestions, and get help performing various tasks within WhatsApp.

With WhatsApp being already installed on most users' devices, you no longer need to go to the ChatGPT website or even use the dedicated ChatGPT app to use the AI chatbot. OpenAI has made the GPT-4o model available on WhatsApp for all users, and here is how you can access it.

  1. Open your phone's Contacts app and save 1-800-2428478 as a contact.
  2. Then open WhatsApp and tap on the '+' button on the bottom right.
  1. Alternatively, tap on the small QR code icon next to the 'New contact' option.
  2. Scan the code shown below to start chatting with ChatGPT.
  1. You will see a message in your chat that by continuing, you accept OpenAI's terms and conditions. Now, you can simply interact with ChatGPT by typing in your prompts and the chatbot will provide you with suitable responses. For instance, you can use a prompt like can you share an eggless pancake recipe and hit the Send button to get a response.

Things to know

  • You can access ChatGPT in WhatsApp for free for up to 15 minutes each month. The number of messages that you can send is also limited, and you will see notifications when you're close to reaching it as well as when you reach it.
  • According to OpenAI, ChatGPT in WhatsApp is an experimental feature, so the usage limit and availability for users may change later on.
  • ChatGPT does not offer features like image generation and voice mode in WhatsApp. You will have to use the web interface or the dedicated app to access those.
  • You cannot add ChatGPT to group chats in WhatsApp.
  • The company may store your interactions with the chatbot within the messaging app for abuse prevention and safety, which is something to keep in mind if you're concerned about your privacy.
  • For users in the US and Canada who can call ChatGPT from their phones at 1-800-ChatGPT, OpenAI recommends using the feature in quiet environments with voice isolation enabled on your device (if available) or using headphones. The chatbot may interpret background noise as prompts when you use it in a noisy surrounding.