The whole lot you want to know in regards to the AI chatbot

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022. What began as a device to supercharge productiveness by writing essays and code with short text prompts has developed right into a behemoth with 300 million weekly active users.

2024 was an enormous yr for OpenAI, from its partnership with Apple for its generative AI providing, Apple Intelligence, the discharge of GPT-4o with voice capabilities, and the highly-anticipated launch of its text-to-video model Sora.

OpenAI additionally confronted its share of inside drama, together with the notable exits of high-level execs like co-founder and longtime chief scientist Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati. OpenAI has additionally been hit with lawsuits from Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers alleging copyright infringement, in addition to an injunction from Elon Musk to halt OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit.

In 2025, OpenAI is battling the notion that it’s ceding floor within the AI race to Chinese rivals like DeepSeek. The corporate has been making an attempt to shore up its relationship with Washington because it concurrently pursues an ambitious data center project, and because it reportedly lays the groundwork for one of many largest funding rounds in historical past.

Beneath, you’ll discover a timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, beginning with the most recent, which we’ve been updating all year long. If in case you have every other questions, try our ChatGPT FAQ here.

Timeline of the latest ChatGPT updates

March 2025

OpenAI removes ChatGPT’s restrictions on picture era

OpenAI made a notable change to its content moderation policies after the success of its new picture generator in ChatGPT, which quickly went viral for creating Studio Ghibli-style images. ChatGPT can now generate photos of public figures, hateful symbols, and racial options when requested. OpenAI had beforehand declined such prompts as a result of potential controversy or hurt they might trigger. Nonetheless, the corporate has now “developed” its strategy, as acknowledged in a blog post printed by Joanne Jang, the lead for OpenAI’s mannequin habits.

OpenAI adopts Anthropic’s commonplace for linking AI fashions with information

OpenAI intends to incorporate Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) into all of its merchandise, together with the desktop software for ChatGPT. MCP is now obtainable within the Brokers SDK, and help for the ChatGPT desktop app and Responses API might be coming quickly, Sam Altman said. MCP, an open-source commonplace, helps AI fashions generate extra correct and appropriate responses to particular queries. The protocol permits builders to create bidirectional hyperlinks between information sources and AI-driven functions like chatbots.

OpenAI’s viral Studio Ghibli-style photos may elevate AI copyright issues

The latest update of the image generator on OpenAI’s ChatGPT has triggered a flood of AI-generated memes within the fashion of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio behind blockbuster movies like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away.” The speedy viral of the pictures sparked concerns about whether or not the ChatGPT creator had violated copyright legal guidelines, particularly since they’re already going through authorized motion for utilizing supply materials with out authorization. In the meantime, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that while it is “super fun seeing people love images” in ChatGPT, “our GPUs are melting,” including that the corporate will briefly restrict the function’s utilization as it really works to make it extra environment friendly.

OpenAI expects income will triple this yr to $12.7 billion

OpenAI expects its income to triple to $12.7 billion in 2025, fueled by the efficiency of its paid AI software program, according to media outlets. The startup expects that it’ll not obtain constructive money circulation till 2029. The Microsoft-backed firm, which achieved a income of $3.7 billion in 2024, anticipates important development in income subsequent yr, surpassing $29.4 billion, as reported. In the meantime, OpenAI is in the final stages of securing a brand new $40 billion funding spherical led by SoftBank, according to a Bloomberg report. Different traders, together with the hedge fund Magnetar Capital, Coatue Administration, Founders Fund, and Altimeter Capital Administration, are additionally in talks with the ChatGPT maker to take part within the spherical, with Magnetar probably placing in $1 billion.

ChatGPT has upgraded its image-generation function

OpenAI on Tuesday rolled out a significant improve to ChatGPT’s image-generation capabilities: ChatGPT can now use the GPT-4o mannequin to generate and edit photos and pictures immediately. The function went stay earlier this week in ChatGPT and Sora, OpenAI’s AI video-generation device, for subscribers of the corporate’s Professional plan, priced at $200 a month, and might be obtainable quickly to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and builders utilizing the corporate’s API service. The corporate’s CEO Sam Altman said on Wednesday, nonetheless, that the discharge of the picture era function to free customers could be delayed resulting from increased demand than the corporate anticipated.

OpenAI declares management updates

Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief working officer, will lead the corporate’s world enlargement and handle company partnerships as CEO Sam Altman shifts his focus to research and products, in accordance to a blog post from OpenAI. Lightcap, who beforehand labored with Altman at Y Combinator, joined the Microsoft-backed startup in 2018. OpenAI additionally stated Mark Chen would step into the expanded function of chief analysis officer, and Julia Villagra will tackle the function of chief folks officer.

OpenAI’s AI voice assistant now has superior function

OpenAI has up to date its AI voice assistant with improved chatting capabilities, in response to a video posted on Monday (March 24) to the corporate’s official media channels. The replace allows real-time conversations, and the AI assistant is alleged to be extra personable and interrupts customers much less typically. Customers on ChatGPT’s free tier can now entry the brand new model of Superior Voice Mode, whereas paying customers will obtain solutions which might be “extra direct, participating, concise, particular, and inventive,” a spokesperson from OpenAI told TechCrunch.

OpenAI, Meta in talks with Reliance in India

OpenAI and Meta have individually engaged in discussions with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries concerning potential collaborations to reinforce their AI companies within the nation, per a report by The Information. One key subject being mentioned is Reliance Jio distributing OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Reliance has proposed promoting OpenAI’s fashions to companies in India by an software programming interface (API) to allow them to incorporate AI into their operations. Meta additionally plans to bolster its presence in India by developing a big 3GW information heart in Jamnagar, Gujarat. OpenAI, Meta, and Reliance haven’t but formally introduced these plans.

OpenAI faces privateness criticism in Europe for chatbot’s defamatory hallucinations

Noyb, a privateness rights advocacy group, is supporting a person in Norway who was shocked to discover that ChatGPT was offering false details about him, stating that he had been discovered responsible of killing two of his kids and making an attempt to hurt the third. “The GDPR is evident. Private information must be correct,” stated Joakim Söderberg, information safety lawyer at Noyb, in a press release. “If it’s not, customers have the best to have it modified to mirror the reality. Exhibiting ChatGPT customers a tiny disclaimer that the chatbot could make errors clearly isn’t sufficient. You may’t simply unfold false data and in the long run add a small disclaimer saying that every part you stated may not be true.”

OpenAI upgrades its transcription and voice-generating AI fashions

OpenAI has added new transcription and voice-generating AI models to its APIs: a text-to-speech mannequin, “gpt-4o-mini-tts,” that delivers extra nuanced and life like sounding speech, in addition to two speech-to-text fashions referred to as “gpt-4o-transcribe” and “gpt-4o-mini-transcribe”. The corporate claims they’re improved variations of what was already there and that they hallucinate much less.

OpenAI has launched o1-pro, a extra highly effective model of its o1

OpenAI has introduced o1-pro in its developer API. OpenAI says its o1-pro makes use of extra computing than its o1 “reasoning” AI model to ship “persistently higher responses.” It’s solely accessible to pick out builders who’ve spent at the least $5 on OpenAI API companies. OpenAI prices $150 for each million tokens (about 750,000 phrases) enter into the mannequin and $600 for each million tokens the mannequin produces. It prices twice as a lot as OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 for enter and 10 instances the worth of normal o1.

OpenAI analysis lead Noam Brown thinks AI “reasoning” fashions may’ve arrived a long time in the past

Noam Brown, who heads AI reasoning analysis at OpenAI, thinks that certain types of AI models for “reasoning” could have been developed 20 years ago if researchers had understood the right strategy and algorithms.

OpenAI says it has educated an AI that’s “actually good” at artistic writing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated, in a post on X, that the corporate has trained a “new model” that’s “really good” at creative writing. He posted a prolonged pattern from the mannequin given the immediate “Please write a metafictional literary quick story about AI and grief.” OpenAI has not extensively explored using AI for writing fiction. The corporate has largely targeting challenges in inflexible, predictable areas corresponding to math and programming. And it seems that it might not be that great at artistic writing in any respect.

we educated a brand new mannequin that’s good at artistic writing (undecided but how/when it would get launched). that is the primary time i’ve been actually struck by one thing written by AI; it acquired the vibe of metafiction so proper.

PROMPT:

Please write a metafictional literary quick story…

— Sam Altman (@sama) March 11, 2025

OpenAI launches new instruments to assist companies construct AI brokers

OpenAI rolled out new tools designed to help developers and businesses build AI agents — automated techniques that may independently accomplish duties — utilizing the corporate’s personal AI fashions and frameworks. The instruments are a part of OpenAI’s new Responses API, which allows enterprises to develop custom-made AI brokers that may carry out internet searches, scan by firm recordsdata, and navigate web sites, just like OpenAI’s Operator product. The Responses API successfully replaces OpenAI’s Assistants API, which the corporate plans to discontinue within the first half of 2026.

OpenAI reportedly plans to cost as much as $20,000 a month for specialised AI ‘brokers’

OpenAI intends to release several “agent” products tailor-made for various functions, together with sorting and rating gross sales leads and software program engineering, in response to a report from The Information. One, a “high-income data employee” agent, will reportedly be priced at $2,000 a month. One other, a software program developer agent, is alleged to price $10,000 a month. The costliest rumored brokers, that are stated to be aimed toward supporting “PhD-level analysis,” are anticipated to price $20,000 per thirty days. The jaw-dropping determine is indicative of how a lot money OpenAI wants proper now: The corporate misplaced roughly $5 billion final yr after paying for prices associated to working its companies and different bills. It’s unclear when these agentic instruments may launch or which clients might be eligible to purchase them.

ChatGPT can immediately edit your code

The most recent model of the macOS ChatGPT app allows users to edit code directly in supported developer tools, together with Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains. ChatGPT Plus, Professional, and Staff subscribers can use the function now, and the corporate plans to roll it out to extra customers like Enterprise, Edu, and free customers.

ChatGPT’s weekly lively customers doubled in lower than 6 months, because of new releases

In response to a new report from VC agency Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), OpenAI’s AI chatbot, ChatGPT, experienced solid growth in the second half of 2024. It took ChatGPT 9 months to extend its weekly lively customers from 100 million in November 2023 to 200 million in August 2024, nevertheless it solely took lower than six months to double that quantity as soon as extra, in response to the report. ChatGPT’s weekly lively customers elevated to 300 million by December 2024 and 400 million by February 2025. ChatGPT has skilled important development just lately as a result of launch of recent fashions and options, corresponding to GPT-4o, with multimodal capabilities. ChatGPT utilization spiked from April to Might 2024, shortly after that mannequin’s launch.

February 2025

OpenAI cancels its o3 AI mannequin in favor of a ‘unified’ next-gen launch

OpenAI has successfully canceled the discharge of o3 in favor of what CEO Sam Altman is looking a “simplified” product providing. In a post on X, Altman stated that, within the coming months, OpenAI will launch a mannequin referred to as GPT-5 that “integrates a variety of [OpenAI’s] know-how,” together with o3, in ChatGPT and its API. Because of that roadmap choice, OpenAI now not plans to launch o3 as a standalone mannequin. 

ChatGPT is probably not as power-hungry as as soon as assumed

A commonly cited stat is that ChatGPT requires round 3 watt-hours of energy to reply a single query. Utilizing OpenAI’s newest default mannequin for ChatGPT, GPT-4o, as a reference, nonprofit AI research institute Epoch AI discovered the common ChatGPT question consumes around 0.3 watt-hours. Nonetheless, the evaluation doesn’t think about the extra power prices incurred by ChatGPT with options like picture era or enter processing.

OpenAI now reveals extra of its o3-mini mannequin’s thought course of

In response to stress from rivals like DeepSeek, OpenAI is altering the way in which its o3-mini mannequin communicates its step-by-step “thought” process. ChatGPT customers will see an up to date “chain of thought” that reveals extra of the mannequin’s “reasoning” steps and the way it arrived at solutions to questions.

Now you can use ChatGPT internet search with out logging in

OpenAI is now permitting anybody to make use of ChatGPT internet search without having to log in. Whereas OpenAI had previously allowed customers to ask ChatGPT questions with out signing in, responses have been restricted to the chatbot’s final coaching replace. This solely applies by ChatGPT.com, nonetheless. To make use of ChatGPT in any type by the native cellular app, you’ll nonetheless have to be logged in.

OpenAI unveils a brand new ChatGPT agent for ‘deep analysis’

OpenAI introduced a brand new AI “agent” called deep research that’s designed to assist folks conduct in-depth, advanced analysis utilizing ChatGPT. OpenAI says the “agent” is meant for situations the place you don’t simply need a fast reply or abstract, however as a substitute must assiduously think about data from a number of web sites and different sources.

February 2025

OpenAI used a subreddit to check AI persuasion

OpenAI used the subreddit r/ChangeMyView to measure the persuasive abilities of its AI reasoning fashions. OpenAI says it collects person posts from the subreddit and asks its AI fashions to jot down replies, in a closed surroundings, that will change the Reddit person’s thoughts on a topic. The corporate then reveals the responses to testers, who assess how persuasive the argument is, and eventually OpenAI compares the AI fashions’ responses to human replies for that very same submit. 

OpenAI launches o3-mini, its newest ‘reasoning’ mannequin

OpenAI launched a brand new AI “reasoning” model, o3-mini, the latest within the firm’s o household of fashions. OpenAI first previewed the model in December alongside a extra succesful system referred to as o3. OpenAI is pitching its new mannequin as each “highly effective” and “reasonably priced.”

ChatGPT’s cellular customers are 85% male, report says

A brand new report from app analytics agency Appfigures discovered that over half of ChatGPT’s mobile users are underneath age 25, with customers between ages 50 and 64 making up the second largest age demographic. The gender hole amongst ChatGPT customers is much more important. Appfigures estimates that throughout age teams, males make up 84.5% of all customers.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT plan for US authorities companies

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Gov designed to provide U.S. government agencies an extra solution to entry the tech. ChatGPT Gov consists of lots of the capabilities present in OpenAI’s corporate-focused tier, ChatGPT Enterprise. OpenAI says that ChatGPT Gov allows companies to extra simply handle their very own safety, privateness, and compliance, and will expedite inside authorization of OpenAI’s instruments for the dealing with of personal delicate information.

Extra teenagers report utilizing ChatGPT for schoolwork, regardless of the tech’s faults

Youthful Gen Zers are embracing ChatGPT, for schoolwork, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. In a follow-up to its 2023 ballot on ChatGPT utilization amongst younger folks, Pew requested ~1,400 U.S.-based teenagers ages 13 to 17 whether or not they’ve used ChatGPT for homework or different school-related assignments. Twenty-six p.c stated that that they had, double the quantity two years in the past. Simply over half of teenagers responding to the ballot stated they suppose it’s acceptable to make use of ChatGPT for researching new topics. However contemplating the methods ChatGPT can fall quick, the outcomes are probably trigger for alarm.

OpenAI says it might retailer deleted Operator information for as much as 90 days

OpenAI says that it would retailer chats and related screenshots from clients who use Operator, the company’s AI “agent” tool, for as much as 90 days — even after a person manually deletes them. Whereas OpenAI has an analogous deleted information retention coverage for ChatGPT, the retention interval for ChatGPT is just 30 days, which is 60 days shorter than Operator’s.

OpenAI launches Operator, an AI agent that performs duties autonomously

OpenAI is launching a analysis preview of Operator, a general-purpose AI agent that may take control of a web browser and independently perform certain actions. Operator guarantees to automate duties corresponding to reserving journey lodging, making restaurant reservations, and procuring on-line.

OpenAI could preview its agent device for customers on the $200-per-month Professional plan

Operator, OpenAI’s agent tool, could possibly be launched sooner quite than later. Adjustments to ChatGPT’s code base counsel that Operator will be available as an early research preview to customers on the $200 Professional subscription plan. The modifications aren’t but publicly seen, however a user on X who goes by Choi noticed these updates in ChatGPT’s client-side code. TechCrunch individually recognized the identical references to Operator on OpenAI’s web site.

OpenAI checks cellphone number-only ChatGPT signups

OpenAI has begun testing a function that lets new ChatGPT customers sign up with only a phone number — no electronic mail required. The function is presently in beta within the U.S. and India. Nonetheless, customers who create an account utilizing their quantity can’t improve to one among OpenAI’s paid plans with out verifying their account by way of an electronic mail. Multi-factor authentication additionally isn’t supported with out a legitimate electronic mail.

ChatGPT now helps you to schedule reminders and recurring duties

ChatGPT’s new beta function, referred to as duties, allows users to set simple reminders. For instance, you’ll be able to ask ChatGPT to remind you when your passport expires in six months, and the AI assistant will comply with up with a push notification on no matter platform you’ve duties enabled. The function will begin rolling out to ChatGPT Plus, Staff, and Professional customers across the globe this week.

New ChatGPT function lets customers assign it traits like ‘chatty’ and ‘Gen Z’

OpenAI is introducing a brand new manner for customers to customize their interactions with ChatGPT. Some customers discovered they’ll specify a most well-liked identify or nickname and “traits” they’d just like the chatbot to have. OpenAI suggests traits like “Chatty,” “Encouraging,” and “Gen Z.” Nonetheless, some users reported that the brand new choices have disappeared, so it’s potential they went stay prematurely.

December 2024

ChatGPT Search will be tricked into deceptive customers, new analysis reveals

ChatGPT Search will be fooled into producing utterly deceptive summaries, The Guardian has found. They discovered ChatGPT could possibly be prompted to disregard unfavourable critiques and generate “entirely positive” summaries by inserting hidden textual content into web sites it created and that ChatGPT Search is also made to spit out malicious code utilizing this methodology.

Microsoft and OpenAI reportedly have a finance-centric definition of AGI

Microsoft and OpenAI have a really specific, internal definition of AGI based mostly on the startup’s earnings, in response to a brand new report from The Information. The 2 firms reportedly signed an settlement stating OpenAI has solely achieved AGI when it develops AI techniques that may generate at the least $100 billion in revenue, which is much from the rigorous technical and philosophical definition of AGI many would anticipate.

OpenAI educated o1 and o3 to ‘suppose’ about its security coverage

OpenAI released new research outlining the corporate’s strategy to make sure AI reasoning fashions keep aligned with the values of their human builders. The startup used “deliberative alignment” to make o1 and o3 “think” about OpenAI’s safety policy. In response to OpenAI’s analysis, the strategy decreased the speed at which o1 answered “unsafe” questions whereas bettering its means to reply benign ones.

OpenAI declares new o3 reasoning fashions

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman introduced the successors to its o1 reasoning model family: o3 and o3-mini. The fashions are usually not broadly obtainable but, however security researchers can join a preview. The reveal marks the top of the “12 Days of OpenAI” occasion, which noticed bulletins for real-time imaginative and prescient capabilities, ChatGPT Search, and even a Santa voice for ChatGPT. 

OpenAI brings ChatGPT to your landline

In an effort to make ChatGPT accessible to as many individuals as potential, OpenAI introduced a 1-800 number to call the chatbot — even from a landline or a flip cellphone. Customers can name 1-800-CHATGPT, and ChatGPT will reply to your queries in an expertise that is kind of similar to Superior Voice Mode — minus the multimodality.

OpenAI is providing quarter-hour of free calling for U.S. customers. The corporate notes that commonplace service charges could apply.

OpenAI brings its ChatGPT Search to extra customers

OpenAI is bringing ChatGPT Search to free, logged in users. Search provides ChatGPT the power to entry real-time data on the net to higher reply your queries, however was solely obtainable for paid customers when it launched in October. Not solely is Search obtainable now free of charge customers, nevertheless it’s additionally been built-in into Advanced Voice Mode.

OpenAI blames huge ChatGPT outage on a ‘new telemetry service’

OpenAI is blaming one of many longest outages in its historical past on a “new telemetry service” gone awry. OpenAI wrote in a postmortem that the outage wasn’t attributable to a safety incident or latest product launch, however by a telemetry service it deployed to gather Kubernetes metrics.

You can also make ChatGPT sound like Santa for a restricted time

OpenAI introduced that ChatGPT customers may entry a new “Santa Mode” voice throughout December. The function permits customers to talk with ChatGPT’s Superior Voice Mode, however with a Christmas twist. The voice sounds, properly, “merry and shiny,” as OpenAI described it. Assume boomy, jolly — kind of like each Santa you’ve ever heard.

OpenAI provides imaginative and prescient to Superior Voice Mode

OpenAI launched the real-time video capabilities for ChatGPT that it demoed almost seven months in the past. ChatGPT Plus, Staff, and Professional subscribers can use the app to level their telephones at objects and have ChatGPT reply in near-real-time. The function may also perceive what’s on a tool’s display screen by display screen sharing.

There’s extra to return from OpenAI by December 23. Tune in to our live blog to remain up to date.

ChatGPT and Sora hit with a significant outage

ChatGPT and Sora each skilled a significant outage Wednesday. Although customers suspected the outage was as a result of rollout of ChatGPT in Apple Intelligence, OpenAI developer group lead Edwin Arbus denied it in a post on X, saying the “outage was unrelated to 12 Days of OpenAI or Apple Intelligence. We made a config change that induced many servers to turn into unavailable.”