OpenAI launches free ChatGPT app for iOS, Android version coming soon

The app is now available for free on iPhones and iPads through the App Store.

It allows users to engage in chat conversations with the AI and syncs chat history with the web version. Notably, the app also supports voice input, leveraging OpenAI's open-source speech recognition model, Whisper.

Since its launch in November, the AI chatbot has gained immense traction, with some external estimates suggesting it attracted over 100 million users by January. Although OpenAI has not confirmed these figures, it reflects the significant impact ChatGPT has had on users across various domains, from academic assistance to professional use.

Initially introduced as an experimental project, the chatbot quickly found a consumer audience. In February, OpenAI introduced a premium subscription service called ChatGPT Plus, offering users priority access and responses generated using the company's latest language model, GPT-4, for a monthly fee of $20.

Until now, accessing OpenAI's language models on mobile often involved utilizing Microsoft's Bing app, which integrated the company's GPT-4-powered chatbot. However, the availability of an official ChatGPT app is likely to attract users away from Microsoft's platform.

Furthermore, it may help deter users from downloading spam or fake apps that falsely claim to provide access to ChatGPT on mobile devices.

According to OpenAI, the app will launch in the US first before expanding to other countries "in the coming weeks."