OpenAI has unveiled a new feature that lets users call ChatGPT for free, offering a 15-minute call per month through the toll-free number 1-800-CHATGPT.
What Happened: The feature was announced by OpenAI’s chief product officer, Kevin Weil, during a livestream on Wednesday as part of the “12 Days of OpenAI” event.
The service is powered by OpenAI’s Realtime API and GPT-4o mini through WhatsApp API integration.
It is currently available to users in the U.S., while international users can access it via WhatsApp at 1-800-242-8478 — OpenAI has coded “CHATGPT” as 242-8478 on a phone keypad.
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Users don’t need to have an account, paid or otherwise, to avail the benefits of this service.
Interestingly, this move mirrors Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google’s 2007 launch of GOOG-411, a free voice directory service.
The toll-free service was discontinued in 2010. Google said it was more of a testing ground for the company’s broader voice recognition goals.
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Why It Matters: The ChatGPT-parent has emerged as a leading player in generative AI, with a valuation of $157 billion and significant investments, such as $14 billion from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT).
As part of its “12 Days of OpenAI” event, the AI startup also extended the ChatGPT Search engine to all users, including those on the free tier.
The Sam Altman-led company also debuted its text-to-image model, Sora, along with a $200 monthly ChatGPT Pro subscription.
OpenAI has also been battling with some legal troubles. Last week, the company countered Elon Musk’s legal attempts to block its shift to a fully for-profit model.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
