OpenAI launches «a hotline» with ChatGPT (with a real number) — first 15 minutes free of charge

On the 10th day of announcements, OpenAI ChatGPT got its own number — 1-800-242-8478.However, only users in the USA can call the chatbot for now, but others are encouraged to add the number to WhatsApp and chat with ChatGPT through the app. Currently, there’s a limit for the calls — 15 free minutes per phone number per month.

As Arstechnica notes, during the call, users hear the voice: “Hello again, this is ChatGPT, your artificial intelligence assistant. Our conversation may be monitored for security purposes. How can I assist you today?” Users can ask ChatGPT anything they typically ask in chat, but now they can have a more lively and interactive conversation.

OpenAI considers this new feature a “significant step for AI newbies,” as the service offers a simplified version of ChatGPT and “an affordable way to try out artificial intelligence through familiar channels.” Interestingly, Google launched a similar tool back in 2007 — GOOG-411, which provided free voice assistance as a directory service. The service was shut down three years later without explanation, but it seems to have achieved its main goal — collecting voice samples for speech recognition technology. OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson said that the company will not use these calls to train large language models.

A reminder that over the previous days, OpenAI introduced a more expensive subscription to ChatGPT, launched the video generator Sora and something akin to its own search engine.