OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Access Via Traditional Landline Phones
OpenAI now allows users to interact with ChatGPT by calling a toll-free landline number or messaging on WhatsApp. The initiative aims to make AI accessible to people without smartphones or accounts.
OpenAI brings ChatGPT to traditional landline phones, allowing anyone in the U.S. to call 1-800-CHATGPT to speak directly with the AI assistant. The calling experience mirrors ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, enabling real-time conversations for tasks like language translation without requiring a user account. U.S. callers receive 15 minutes of free usage before the call automatically disconnects.
In addition to the landline option, OpenAI integrates ChatGPT into WhatsApp for text-based conversations globally. This messaging feature offers a simple back-and-forth exchange without the advanced customization found in the dedicated ChatGPT mobile app. While no account is needed to start texting, users face a daily message limit that prompts them to switch to the main app or desktop version to continue chatting.
This expansion stems from a recent internal hack week project where a small team rapidly developed the concept. OpenAI plans to enhance the WhatsApp integration in the future by adding features like image analysis and web search. The company views this launch as a major step in its mission to make artificial general intelligence available to as many people as possible.