OpenAI, the U.S. company behind the popular artificial intelligence (A.I.) model ChatGPT, has unveiled a new version of the chatbot specifically for use on Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone.
Since its debut last November, ChatGPT has become one of the most popular apps in the world as people use it for online searches, to write essays, draft emails, and create images, among other tasks.
The new ChatGPT smartphone app will respond to voice commands, operating in a similar fashion to Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa digital assistants.
The ChatGPT iPhone app will not respond, or answer questions, with voice but rather will generate responses in a text format.
The new iPhone app is free for people to download and use.
Subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, who pay $20 a month, can use a more powerful version of the chatbot based on the newer GPT-4 artificial intelligence technology.
OpenAI has already started to rollout the ChatGPT smartphone app in the U.S. with plans to expand into other countries, including Canada, in coming weeks.
A version of the app for Android powered smartphones is also being developed by OpenAI.
ChatGPT is the most prominent and popular of what is known as “generative A.I.,” technology that can generate text, images and code based on short voice or text commands.
Google (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT) and several start-up companies have released similar chatbots as they race to capitalize on the popularity of the new A.I. technology.
However, critics, which include prominent technology leaders such as Tesla (TSLA) chief executive officer (CEO) Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have warned about the potential dangers of rushing ahead with A.I.
Concerns include the ability of generative A.I. to spread misinformation online, and the risk that A.I. will replace many jobs, leading to mass unemployment worldwide.
The current A.I. chatbots are also flawed to a degree, often having trouble distinguishing between fact and fiction and being confused by some commands they receive from humans.
OpenAI is privately held and its stock is not traded on a public exchange.
Tech Insider
