ChatGPT Lands on WhatsApp — Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Photo: OpenAI
OpenAI is taking its flagship AI chatbot to one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world: WhatsApp. Starting today, you can add 1 (800) CHAT-GPT (that’s 1 (800) 242-8478) to your contacts and start chatting with ChatGPT directly through Meta’s messaging app.
This new integration keeps things straightforward. The WhatsApp version of ChatGPT is powered by the o1-mini model, offering text-only input for now. That means no fancy voice interactions or visual input features yet, but all the AI-powered capabilities you expect are there, ready to help answer your questions, generate ideas, or just keep the conversation flowing.
What’s particularly interesting is that you don’t need an OpenAI account to use ChatGPT on WhatsApp. It’s available anywhere OpenAI offers its chatbot, with an account authentication system reportedly in the works, though no timeline has been shared.
Of course, WhatsApp isn’t entirely new to AI — Meta already offers its own chatbot — but this addition from OpenAI changes the dynamics entirely, giving users more choice and a familiar interface for interacting with advanced AI.
ChatGPT Hotline: A Throwback, Reinvented
In addition to its WhatsApp debut, OpenAI is rolling out a ChatGPT hotline in the US. The toll-free number, 1 (800) 242-8478, works with any phone, whether it’s a sleek smartphone or an old-school flip phone. The hotline offers 15 minutes of free ChatGPT usage, and if you’re logged into your OpenAI account, you can extend the session.
These moves are part of a broader effort to make ChatGPT more accessible. “We’re only just getting started,” said Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, during the company’s 12 Days of OpenAI livestream. According to Weil, both the WhatsApp integration and hotline came out of a recent hack week and are just the latest in a string of updates that include features like ChatGPT Search for free users and the rollout of Sora video generation.
A Sign of What’s Next
By bringing ChatGPT to WhatsApp and a hotline, OpenAI is showing its commitment to expanding AI’s reach across platforms and devices. These features may be basic in their current form, but they mark a significant step in making conversational AI more universally accessible, no matter how or where you connect.
If you’re ready to give it a try, just add 1 (800) CHAT-GPT to your contacts or pick up the phone. Whether you’re brainstorming, problem-solving, or just testing the limits of AI, ChatGPT is now closer than ever.