Americans can now call ChatGPT by phone

OpenAI has surprised on the tenth of its “12 Christmas Days” with “1-800-CHATGPT,” a new feature that allows free calls to ChatGPT. The service allows sending messages via WhatsApp globally by dialing the number 1-800-242-8478 or directly speaking with the chatbot if you reside in the United States, using the same number. According to Kevin Weil, product director at OpenAI, this project was developed in just a few weeks and aims to bring artificial intelligence closer to a broader audience.

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The initiative is based on OpenAI’s real-time API to manage calls and on a integration of GPT-4o mini with the WhatsApp API for messages. The usage limit is 15 minutes per month per phone number, although more “creative” users might “bypass” this restriction by using virtual phone numbers.

For OpenAI, this tool represents an ideal opportunity for new users who wish to try ChatGPT in a simple and economical way. “It is a low-cost way to experience it through familiar channels,” the company explained. However, they emphasize that regular users who need more advanced features and customization options should continue using their regular accounts through the website.

OpenAI’s proposal is reminiscent of GOOG-411, a voice assistance service launched by Google in 2007 and discontinued in 2010. Although no official explanation was ever given for its closure, Marissa Mayer, then vice president of Google, admitted that the project’s goal was to collect voice samples to improve their voice recognition models. “We need a lot of people speaking to train robust models,” Mayer explained at the time.

To clear up any possible suspicions, OpenAI has clarified that the calls will not be used to train language models. According to Taya Christianson, the company’s spokesperson, “we will not use these calls to train large language models.”

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