Artificial intelligence (AI) system ChatGPT now allows users to create their own generative pretrained transformers (GPTs), according to a Nov. 6 blog post from developer OpenAI. This means that users can now create custom ChatGPT apps that handle a variety of tasks, instead of needing to enter long strings of commands into the chat window to perform these tasks.
GPTs are a new way for anyone to create a tailored version of ChatGPT to be more helpful in their daily life, at specific tasks, at work, or at home — and then share that creation with others. No code required. https://t.co/SPV4TcMiQw pic.twitter.com/PcmorZwtMF
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 6, 2023
According to the post, OpenAI found that many users were storing text files that they used to frame how ChatGPT responded to prompts. Each time these “power users” opened ChatGPT, they had to cut and paste these text fields into the program’s chat box before performing any tasks. The team launched GPTs as a means of alleviating this problem, as it stated:
“Many power users maintain a list of carefully crafted prompts and instruction sets, manually copying them into ChatGPT. GPTs now do all of that for you.”
The new feature is available to subscribers of the “ChatGPT Plus” and Enterprise subscription tiers. There is no free version available at this time.
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OpenAI also stated that a new store for GPTs will open “later this month.” The store will allow developers to create GPTs and offer them for sale, similar to the way a mobile app store works. Only “verified builders” will be allowed to post GPTs in the store, and the team claims that it has created “new systems” to help protect the privacy and safety of users as the store rolls out.
Users can also share their GPTs publicly if they want others to be able to use them, the post stated. And enterprises can create “internal-only” GPTs that can only be used within specific departments or by employees specifically authorized to use them.
According to the post, biotech firm Amgen, management consulting company Bain and payments processor Square have already begun using GPTs to create marketing materials, aid customer support staff or help onboard new engineers.
ChatGPT is one of the most popular AI chat programs, with over 180 million users, according to SimilarWeb data cited by Reuters. But it faces increasing competition from Google’s Bard and Anthropic’s Claude 2. On Nov. 5, Elon Musk announced that he had created his own AI chat program, called “Grok.”