San Francisco—OpenAI has announced that users can now access its ChatGPT generative AI chatbot without the need to sign up for the service. The change, which began rolling out on Monday, aims to make artificial intelligence more accessible to a broader audience.
ChatGPT, launched in late 2022, is a conversational AI model that can mimic human dialogue, perform tasks such as summarizing lengthy texts, compose poetry, and even generate ideas for themed events. The chatbot quickly gained popularity worldwide, setting records for user growth with a peak of 1.8 billion web visits in May 2023, according to data analytics firm Similarweb.
However, growth has slowed since then, prompting OpenAI to remove barriers to access by eliminating the sign-up requirement for the free version of ChatGPT. The company stated that the feature would be rolled out gradually, emphasizing its commitment to “make AI accessible to anyone curious about its capabilities.”
To ensure user safety, OpenAI has introduced additional content safeguards for those accessing ChatGPT without signing up. These measures include blocking certain prompts and responses in a wider range of categories, though the company did not specify which categories are affected.
While the free version provides substantial functionality, it does not offer direct internet access. OpenAI continues to offer paid versions of ChatGPT for individuals, team users, and enterprises, which come with additional features and capabilities.
OpenAI also mentioned that it may use content provided by users to help improve its large-language models. Users have the option to turn off this feature if they prefer not to have their interactions used for training purposes.
The move underscores OpenAI’s dedication to advancing AI technology while making it more accessible and user-friendly. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and daily life, broader access to tools like ChatGPT allows more people to explore and understand its potential benefits and challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
