OpenAI has recently announced through a tweet that the official ChatGPT mobile app is now accessible in a broader range of countries. Initially, when OpenAI introduced the mobile app last week, it was limited to iOS and available only in the United States. However, individuals residing in various European countries, South Korea, New Zealand, and more will now have the opportunity to download the app from the App Store.
The ChatGPT app is free of charge and does not contain any advertisements. Those who are already familiar with ChatGPT will find the app to be familiar and straightforward, serving as a means to engage with the chatbot without any additional features or complexities.
The following countries are now included in the list of regions where the ChatGPT app is accessible: Albania, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. At present, the app is only available on iOS, but OpenAI has indicated that an Android version is in the works.
Upon launching the app, users can begin entering text in a text box located at the bottom of the screen, resembling the experience of sending a message on any messaging app. While text can be dictated using Apple's built-in speech recognition feature, OpenAI's Whisper, an open-source speech recognition system, can also be utilized for voice input.
After sending a message, OpenAI processes the request and provides an AI-generated response. Users have the option to follow up with additional information or request a different answer. The app supports code blocks, and users can copy and paste responses.
By default, ChatGPT retains chat history for the purpose of model training. With this feature enabled, conversations can also be accessed on desktop devices. It is important to note that data sharing cannot be disabled without also disabling chat history.
For ChatGPT Plus subscribers, the mobile app grants access to GPT-4 capabilities. Additionally, users can expect faster response times. ChatGPT Plus is priced at $20 per month on desktop and is available as an in-app purchase in various currencies (such as €22.99 per month in Europe and £19.99 in the United Kingdom).
Interestingly, the timing of this expansion, which includes several European countries, coincides with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's meetings with European heads of state, including Emmanuel Macron of France, Pedro Sánchez of Spain, and Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom. Altman has expressed concerns about hastily implemented AI regulatory policies. Now, with ChatGPT being more widely available in Europe, individuals can simply say, “just download the app.”
