Comprehensive Guide to AI Chatbots

Jan 6, 2024 ChatGPT

Comprehensive Guide to AI Chatbots

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm. What started as a tool to hyper-charge productivity through writing essays and code with short text prompts has evolved into a behemoth used by more than 92% of Fortune 500 companies for more wide-ranging needs. And that growth has propelled OpenAI itself into becoming one of the most-hyped companies in recent memory, even if CEO and co-founder Sam Altman’s firing and swift return raised concerns about its direction and opened the door for competitors.

While there is a more nefarious side to ChatGPT, it’s clear that AI tools are not going away anytime soon. Since its initial launch nearly a year ago, ChatGPT has hit 100 million weekly active users, and OpenAI is heavily investing in it.

Prior to the leadership chaos, on November 6, OpenAI held its first developer conference: OpenAI DevDay. During the conference, it announced a slew of updates coming to GPT, including GPT-4 Turbo (a super-charged version of GPT-4, its latest language-writing model) and a multimodal API. OpenAI also unveiled the GPT store, where users could create and monetize their own custom versions of GPT, but its launch was delayed in December and is now set to launch sometime in January.

GPT-4, which can write more naturally and fluently than previous models, remains largely exclusive to paying ChatGPT users. But you can access GPT-4 for free through Microsoft’s Bing Chat in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Safari web browsers. Beyond GPT-4 and OpenAI DevDay announcements, OpenAI recently connected ChatGPT to the internet for all users. And with the integration of DALL-E 3, users are also able to generate both text prompts and images right in ChatGPT.

Here’s a timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, which we’ve been updating throughout the year. And if you have any other questions, check out our ChatGPT FAQ here.

Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates

January 2024

  • OpenAI’s app store for GPTs planned to launch next week.

December 2023

  • Study finds white-collar workers are uneasy about using ChatGPT.
  • The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright infringement.
  • OpenAI re-opens ChatGPT Plus subscriptions.
  • OpenAI and Axel Springer partner up for a “real-time” ChatGPT news deal.
  • Stanford researchers say ChatGPT didn’t cause an influx in cheating in high schools.
  • ChatGPT users worry the chatbot is experiencing seasonal depression.
  • Judges in the U.K. are now allowed to use ChatGPT in legal rulings.
  • OpenAI makes repeating words “forever” a violation of its terms of service after Google DeepMind test.
  • Lawmakers in Brazil enact an ordinance written by ChatGPT.
  • OpenAI reportedly delays the launch of its GPT store to 2024.

November 2023

  • ChatGPTs mobile apps top 110M installs and nearly $30M in revenue.
  • ChatGPT celebrates one-year anniversary.
  • Apple and Google avoid naming ChatGPT as their ‘app of the year’.
  • An attack from researchers prompts ChatGPT to reveal training data.
  • ChatGPT and other AI chatbots are fueling an increase in phishing emails.
  • South Africa officials investigate if President Cyril Ramaphosa used ChatGPT to write a speech.
  • ChatGPT Voice can be used to replace Siri.
  • Sam Altman returns as CEO.
  • ChatGPT Voice rolls out to all free users.
  • Sam Altman might return, but it’s complicated.
  • Confirmation Sam Altman will not return as OpenAI’s CEO.
  • Sam Altman ousted as OpenAI’s CEO.
  • OpenAI explores how ChatGPT can be used in the classroom.
  • OpenAI pauses new ChatGPT Plus subscriptions due to a “surge of usage”.
  • ChatGPT gets flagged as potentially unsafe for kids.
  • OpenAI blames DDoS attack for ChatGPT outage.
  • OpenAI debuts GPT-4 Turbo.
  • GPT-4 gets a fine-tuning.
  • OpenAI’s GPT Store lets you build (and monetize) your own GPT.
  • ChatGPT has 100 million weekly active users.
  • OpenAI launches DALL-E 3 API, new text-to-speech models.
  • OpenAI promises to defend business customers against copyright claims.
  • As OpenAI’s multimodal API launches broadly, research shows it’s still flawed.
  • OpenAI launches API, letting developers build ‘assistants’ into their apps.

October 2023

  • ChatGPT app revenue shows no signs of slowing, but it’s not #1.
  • ChatGPT tests the ability to upload and analyze files for Plus users.
  • ChatGPT officially gets web search.
  • OpenAI integrates DALL-E 3 into ChatGPT.
  • Microsoft-affiliated research finds flaws in GPT-4.
  • ChatGPT’s mobile app hits record $4.58M in revenue in September.

September 2023

  • ChatGPT can now browse the internet (again).
  • ChatGPT now has a voice.
  • Poland opens an investigation against OpenAI.
  • OpenAI unveils DALL-E 3.
  • Opera GX integrates ChatGPT-powered AI.

August 2023

  • OpenAI releases a guide for teachers using ChatGPT in the classroom.
  • OpenAI launches ChatGPT Enterprise.
  • Survey finds relatively few American use ChatGPT.
  • OpenAI brings fine-tuning to GPT-3.5 Turbo.
  • OpenAI acquires Global Illumination.
  • The ‘custom instructions’ feature is extended to free ChatGPT users.
  • China requires AI apps to obtain an administrative license.

July 2023

  • ChatGPT for Android is now available in the US, India, Bangladesh and Brazil.
  • ChatGPT is coming to Android.
  • OpenAI launches customized instructions for ChatGPT.
  • The FTC is reportedly investigating OpenAI.
  • OpenAI announced the general availability of GPT-4.

June 2023

  • ChatGPT app can now search the web only on Bing.
  • Mercedes is adding ChatGPT to its infotainment system.
  • ChatGPT app is now available on iPad, adds support for Siri and Shortcuts.

May 2023

  • Texas judge orders all AI-generated content must be declared and checked.
  • ChatGPT app expanded to more than 30 countries.
  • ChatGPT app is now available in 11 more countries.
  • OpenAI launches a ChatGPT app for iOS.
  • Hackers are using ChatGPT lures to spread malware on Facebook.

April 2023

  • ChatGPT parent company OpenAI closes $300M share sale at $27B-29B valuation.
  • OpenAI previews new subscription tier, ChatGPT Business.
  • OpenAI wants to trademark “GPT”.
  • Auto-GPT is Silicon Valley’s latest quest to automate everything.
  • FTC warns that AI technology like ChatGPT could ‘turbocharge’ fraud.
  • Superchat’s new AI chatbot lets you message historical and fictional characters via ChatGPT.
  • Italy gives OpenAI to-do list for lifting ChatGPT suspension order.
  • Researchers discover a way to make ChatGPT consistently toxic.
  • Y Combinator-backed startups are trying to build ‘ChatGPT for X’.
  • Italy orders ChatGPT to be blocked.

March 2023

  • 1,100+ signatories signed an open letter asking all ‘AI labs to immediately pause for 6 months’.
  • OpenAI connects ChatGPT to the internet.
  • OpenAI launches GPT-4, available through ChatGPT Plus.
  • ChatGPT is available in Azure OpenAI service.
  • OpenAI launches an API for ChatGPT.

February 2023

  • Microsoft launches the new Bing, with ChatGPT built in.
  • OpenAI launches ChatGPT Plus, starting at $20 per month.

January 2023

  • OpenAI teases ChatGPT Professional.

December 2022

  • ShareGPT lets you easily share your ChatGPT conversations.

November 2022

  • ChatGPT first launched to the public as OpenAI quietly released GPT-3.5.
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