You can now call 1-800-CHATGPT

"Ship-mas" Gift: OpenAI’s New Phone and WhatsApp Features for ChatGPT

A New Way to Interact with ChatGPT

For the 10th day of "ship-mas," OpenAI rolled out a way to call ChatGPT for up to 15 minutes for free over the phone using 1-800-CHATGPT. This feature was a project spun up just a few weeks ago, OpenAI’s chief product officer Kevin Weil said on the livestream. Users can now call ChatGPT in the US and message via WhatsApp globally at 1-800-242-8478.

How it Works

The phone number is built using OpenAI’s Realtime API, and the WhatsApp feature is powered by GPT-4o mini through an integration with the WhatsApp API. The 15-minute limit is per phone number per month, so users could potentially spin up a few Google Voice numbers to get as much time with it as they want.

OpenAI’s Goals

OpenAI sees this feature as an important stepping stone for newcomers to AI, since the service represents a simplified version of ChatGPT compared to its web-based counterpart and offers a "low-cost way to try it out through familiar channels." The company notes that existing users seeking more comprehensive features, higher usage limits, and personalization options should continue using their regular ChatGPT accounts through traditional channels.

Similar Efforts in the Past

Funnily enough, Google launched a similar tool in 2007 called GOOG-411, which offered free directory assistance by voice. The service was discontinued in 2010 without an official explanation from Google, but some speculate that it was shut down because the company had already achieved its underlying goal: collecting a sufficient database of voice samples to advance its speech recognition technology.

OpenAI’s Position

At the time, Google VP Marissa Mayer said it outright: "The speech recognition experts that we have say: If you want us to build a really robust speech model, we need a lot of phonemes, which is a syllable as spoken by a particular voice with a particular intonation. So we need a lot of people talking, saying things so that we can ultimately train off of that. … So 1-800-GOOG-411 is about that: Getting a bunch of different speech samples so that when you call up or we’re trying to get the voice out of video, we can do it with high accuracy."

Clarification on Data Collection

OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson said the company won’t be using these calls to train large language models.

Conclusion

OpenAI’s new phone and WhatsApp features for ChatGPT offer a new way for users to interact with the service, providing a more personalized and accessible experience. While similar efforts have been made in the past, OpenAI’s approach is unique in its focus on providing a simplified and user-friendly interface for those new to AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the limit on the number of calls I can make?
A: The 15-minute limit is per phone number per month.

Q: Can I use multiple Google Voice numbers to get more time with ChatGPT?
A: Yes, you can spin up a few Google Voice numbers to get as much time with it as you want.

Q: What is OpenAI’s goal with this feature?
A: OpenAI sees this feature as an important stepping stone for newcomers to AI, offering a simplified version of ChatGPT and a "low-cost way to try it out through familiar channels."

Q: Will OpenAI use these calls to train large language models?
A: No, according to OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson.