The “12 Days of OpenAI” gave us several new updates to ChatGPT, but today's announcement felt like a whole other gift. Today, OpenAI announced a new feature that allows users to access ChatGPT via phone call or text message.

U.S. users can have a voice conversation with AI by dialing 1-800-CHATGPT (1-800-242-8478) and get up to 15 minutes of free access per month. Additionally, users around the world can interact with ChatGPT via WhatsApp. The team demonstrated that 1-800-CHATGPT can be used with any phone, and even brought out an old-fashioned rotary phone to convince us. But if, like me, you're wondering why you need to call ChatGPT, the team gave a demonstration explaining its purpose. Perhaps you drive by a landmark you don't recognize, or you don't have an interpreter with you when you need to translate from Spanish to English. Now you can pick up your phone and call a chatbot for answers.

But more than that, the introduction of phone-based access to ChatGPT represents a shift toward more user-friendly AI interaction, catering to individuals who may prefer traditional methods of communication over web-based platforms. From grandparents to users with disabilities, OpenAI is making OpenAI accessible to everyone. This move is expected to increase user engagement and broaden the demographic scope of AI technology.

By providing multiple avenues for interaction, including phone calls, text messages, and integration with existing platforms, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as a versatile tool for everyday use. For example, Apple incorporated ChatGPT into its devices in its latest iOS update, allowing Siri to use the chatbot's capabilities for user inquiries about photos, documents, and writing.

This development is part of OpenAI's goal to make AI more approachable by integrating it into familiar communication channels. The phone service uses OpenAI's Realtime API, and the WhatsApp functionality employs GPT-4o mini through the WhatsApp API Members of the OpenAI team have stated that calls to 1-800-CHATGPT are not used to train large-scale language models and As AI continues to expand and evolve, efforts like these by OpenAI are critical to bridging the gap between advanced technology and everyday users and ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely used and easily integrated into everyday life. There are only two days left in the “12 Days of OpenAI.