That ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm is the understatement of the year. ChatGPT is a hurricane, blizzard, and tornado all in one — sweeping through the entire digital sphere. It reached 1 million users in just 5 days and 100 million in just 2 months, making it the fastest-growing app ever.
OpenAI‘s traffic increased by over 5,000% with 266 million visitors in December, 616 million in January, and 1 billion in February.
The ChatGPT website has been visited a total of nearly 2 billion times so far and gets 25 million daily visits.
The chatbot version of OpenAI’s GPT-3 large language model (LLM) has been unleashed to the world — easy to use and totally free of charge.
If you haven’t tried ChatGPT, then this is the perfect starting point for you. We’ll give you an overview of how it works and how you can use it in your daily life.
A lot of people wonder, “Can we use ChatGPT for free and meet our needs? Or do we need ChatGPT Pro?”
With that in mind, we’ll also examine the limitations of the free version so you can decide whether an upgrade to ChatGPT Plus is right for you.
Table of Contents:
- What is ChatGPT?
- Can We Use ChatGPT for Free?
- What is ChatGPT-4?
- What are ChatGPT Plugins?
- ChatGPT Controversies
- Conclusion
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What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an advanced large language model developed by OpenAI that uses artificial intelligence to generate human-like text based on the input it receives. It has gained popularity in various industries due to its ability to answer questions accurately and create written content in various tones and styles efficiently.
How Does ChatGPT Work?
Using the language engine GPT-3, ChatGPT understands and generates text by analyzing patterns in large datasets. The model was trained on 500 billion “tokens” of data obtained from books, articles, Wikipedia, and other pieces of writing on the Internet. From this vast database of text, it is able to recognize context, grammar, and semantics when generating responses or content.
Image source: Zapier
Users can interact with ChatGPT through an API or web-based interface where they provide prompts that guide the AI’s output.
Screenshot from ChatGPT
Common Uses for ChatGPT
ChatGPT has gained popularity among students, writers, content marketers, and SEO specialists as a tool to create well-written content, essays, and more within seconds.
Here are some of the most common uses of ChatGPT.
1. Content Creation
The primary use of ChatGPT is to generate high-quality, original content quickly. You can input a topic or keyword and the bot will respond with an essay, article, or blog post based on your requirements.
This feature makes it an excellent tool for busy writers who need inspiration or ideas for their next piece.
2. Language Translation
If you have international clients or partners who speak different languages, you may find yourself struggling with communication barriers at times. With its language translation capabilities, ChatGPT makes multilingual communication easier than ever.
3. Personal Assistance
ChatGPT can also be used as a personal assistant to help you with daily routine writing tasks such as composing emails, brainstorming content ideas and copy (like headlines or product descriptions), summarizing and rewriting information (like turning a paragraph into a tweet or a social media caption), and more.
What Are the Benefits of ChatGPT?
- Time-saving: With its capability to generate content quickly, users can save time spent on manual writing processes.
- Creativity booster: The AI-generated suggestions help users come up with unique ideas and perspectives they might not have considered otherwise.
- Versatility: From drafting emails and reports to crafting engaging stories or scripts, ChatGPT offers a wide range of applications across different industries.
- Easy to use: The messaging-style interface makes it easy for anyone to start using this powerful tool right away.
What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT?
- Limited creativity: ChatGPT only works after a user enters a prompt — the bot cannot develop its own ideas. All the memories, emotions, and experiences that form human creativity are lacking in AI.
- Bias: ChatGPT picks up information without having the ability to distinguish if it’s biased or offensive. OpenAI is currently working on this issue by diversifying the data and references given to the model.
- Wrong answers: Sometimes ChatGPT gives flat-out wrong answers or makes up facts (these are called “hallucinations“).
- Outdated information: ChatGPT is only trained on information up to the year 2021, so any event that happened beyond that is out of its reach.
Can We Use ChatGPT for Free?
Yes! The good news is that there is a free version of ChatGPT available on OpenAI’s website. All you need to do is create an account using either your email address, Google account, or Microsoft account.
As of April 2023, there are no usage limits on the free version of ChatGPT. This means that anyone can use this cutting-edge technology without worrying about any hidden fees or subscription charges. It offers access to GTP-3.5 which is still incredibly capable and useful in many applications.
Does ChatGPT Have a Daily Limit?
There is no specific limit to how many ChatGPT prompts you can send in a day, but there is a word and character limit for responses.
The bot stops at around 500 to 750 words. If you need more information on the same topic, you can type “continue” in the message box.
If you are using Microsoft Bing, its ChatGPT limit is 20 chats per session or 200 messages total per day.
Does ChatGPT Have a Limit Per Hour?
Some users encounter this error message while using ChatGPT for work or personal projects:
This happens when the user sends too many requests to the app in succession. ChatGPT has a cap on the number of requests you can submit within an hour to prevent overloading its server.
There is no specific number on how many is too many responses but if you get this error, you can try using another account or wait an hour for the limit to reset.
Limitations of the ChatGPT Free Version
- Limited access: During peak hours or when server resources are strained, your access might be restricted in favor of paying customers.
- Fewer features: The free version typically offers fewer functionalities compared with premium plans. For instance, advanced customization options or priority support may not be included in the free version.
Making the Most of the ChatGPT Free Version
- Write detailed prompts: To get better results, provide clear and concise instructions to ChatGPT. For example, specify the format you want the answer in or ask the bot to write a step-by-step solution to your query.
- Experiment with different approaches: If you’re not satisfied with the bot’s answers, try rephrasing your question or instruction. Sometimes changing the way you ask can lead to more accurate responses from ChatGPT.
- Set limits on response length: You can control the length of generated content by asking the app to write with a specific word count.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While using the free version of ChatGPT, users may encounter some common issues like:
- Incomplete answers: If the answer is cut off due to response limits, consider asking a follow-up question.
- Vague or incorrect answers: If the AI replies with information that seems ambiguous or inaccurate, fact-check this information through external sources.
Getting started with ChatGPT’s free edition is easy — perfect for those who want to experiment without having to pay. But if you want uninterrupted service with higher-quality responses, then consider upgrading to ChatGPT Plus which now comes with GPT-4 technology.
What is ChatGPT-4?
ChatGPT-4 is an advanced chatbot that uses the power of GPT-4 to generate human-like responses from a given prompt or context. It’s the latest version of the ChatGPT series and comes with many new features that make it stand out from its predecessors.
One of the most interesting additions to ChatGPT-4 is the slow rollout of plugins that allow for more specialized functionality. For example, there will be plugins available for e-commerce sites that enable customers to make purchases directly through the chat interface.
With this latest version, ChatGPT has become even more powerful and efficient in delivering accurate responses.
How Do I Access ChatGPT 4?
ChatGPT-4 is only available to select API developers. If you’re a general user and want to access it, you’ll need to pay for it through the ChatGPT Plus paid subscription.
How Much Does ChatGPT4 Cost?
It costs $20/month if you’re accessing GPT-4 through the ChatGPT Plus plan.
Is ChatGPT Plus Available for $20 a Month?
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can access GPT-4 for $20 per month. This comes with a usage cap of 100 messages every 4 hours.
What Do You Get with ChatGPT Plus?
If you need more advanced features and faster response times than what the free version offers, then consider subscribing to ChatGPT Plus. This plan provides reliable availability when demand increases while giving priority access to new features like plugins.
Features Available in the Paid Version
- Faster response time.
- Priority access to new features like ChatGPT plugins.
- GTP-4 Model.
What Are ChatGPT Plugins?
The release of ChatGPT plugins has caused quite a buzz in the developer community. These plugins have been dubbed as one of the most powerful developer platforms ever created, and for good reason.
With the introduction of ChatGPT plugins, developers can now build custom features directly into the chatbot — similar to how the App Store expanded the capabilities of the iPhone. This means that developers can create applications that connect directly to ChatGPT.
Some examples provided by OpenAI include booking travel through Expedia or making reservations at restaurants through OpenTable.
The possibilities for what these plugins could accomplish are endless. They allow businesses to automate processes and provide better customer service without having to invest in expensive software development projects.
ChatGPT Controversies
While ChatGPT has gained popularity for its advanced chatbot capabilities, it’s not immune from controversy.
The Future of Jobs
One major concern with generative AI like ChatGPT is that it could lead to significant job loss. According to Goldman Sachs, as many as 300 million jobs worldwide could be lost due to automation by 2030.
While there are benefits to using advanced technology in the workplace, companies must also consider how their use of such tools will impact employees and society as a whole.
Misuse of Technology
Sometimes people use ChatGPT for tasks that should really be handled by humans. For example, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody School came under fire when they used the tool to generate an email about a mass shooting and community support.
Similarly, JPMorgan Chase had to restrict employee access to ChatGPT after concerns about workers relying too heavily on the chatbot for generating emails.
Ethical Concerns
In addition to privacy concerns (which led Italy to ban ChatGPT), there are ethical considerations around using generative AI.
Some worry that if these tools become too good at mimicking human language and behavior, they could be used maliciously or even deceive people into thinking they’re interacting with another person instead of a bot.
Aced Wharton MBA Exam
The most recent controversy surrounding ChatGPT involves its alleged ability to pass the Wharton MBA exam with flying colors. According to reports from Wharton Business School itself, it scored between B- and B+.
However impressive this may seem, it does raise questions about the integrity of such exams and how students might use AI to cheat.
As we continue to develop and use these advanced chatbots, it’s crucial that we consider their impact on society.
Can We Use ChatGPT for Free? Yes, But Tread Carefully
ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help you communicate more effectively. While there is a free version of ChatGPT available, it does come with some limitations. By following our guide, you can make the most of the free version of ChatGPT and maximize its features.
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