ChatGPT, developed by AI research company OpenAI, is a powerful chatbot that generates human-like responses based on user prompts. It runs on a cutting-edge language model called GPT-4 (short for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer), which uses deep learning to understand and produce text that feels natural. First launched to the public on November 30, 2022, ChatGPT quickly became a household name in the world of artificial intelligence.
While many chatbots follow pre-set rules and offer canned replies, ChatGPT is different — it’s AI-powered and uses a large language model (LLM) to generate dynamic and contextually relevant responses. It’s available through web interface and free mobile apps on iOS and Android, with a premium version called ChatGPT Plus offering access to the newest and most powerful models like GPT-4o.
But what exactly can ChatGPT do? A lot! From writing emails, essays, and blog ideas to summarizing content and even writing or debugging code, it’s become a versatile digital assistant. That said, while it can generate usable code, it doesn’t always understand context perfectly, so expert oversight is often necessary.
One key point to remember: ChatGPT doesn’t “know” what’s true or false. It predicts what text should come next based on patterns in data, not facts. This leads to concerns around misinformation — even libel — if it makes false accusations. Legal experts and governments are still figuring out how to handle these issues.
ChatGPT continues to evolve rapidly. OpenAI launched the ChatGPT API on March 1, 2023, allowing developers to integrate its capabilities into their own tools. Microsoft integrated ChatGPT into Windows 11 via Bing, and companies like Looking Glass have even used it to power 3D holographic conversations. Solana also added ChatGPT to help users navigate the Web3 space more easily.
Despite its popularity, ChatGPT has not been without controversy. From AI-generated misinformation to accusations of defamation and use in illicit prompts, the platform has made headlines. For instance:
- Discord’s chatbot Clyde was tricked into offering dangerous instructions.
- An Australian mayor threatened legal action over false claims.
- News outlet CNET was caught publishing AI-written articles without disclosure.
- Some schools banned ChatGPT due to concerns over cheating and misinformation.
There are competitors too — including Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and various open-source alternatives. Prompt marketplaces like PromptBase, ChatX, and Qtools.ai have also sprung up, offering curated prompts that help users get better results from the chatbot.
OpenAI’s journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. The company experienced internal shake-ups with key executives leaving, including co-founder Ilya Sutskever. It’s also facing legal challenges over copyright and its shift toward commercial ventures. In 2025, OpenAI is working hard to maintain its lead amid global competition, especially from China-based AI startups like DeepSeek.
With over 300 million weekly active users, ChatGPT isn’t just a tech trend — it’s reshaping how we work, learn, and interact with machines. And as technology continues to evolve, its impact will only grow.
ChatGPT & OpenAI: Key Updates from April 2025
April 2025 has been a huge month for OpenAI, packed with major announcements, new features, and big moves in the AI landscape. Here’s a quick yet comprehensive roundup of what’s new:
1. Cheaper AI with Flex Processing
OpenAI has introduced Flex processing — a new API option that lets users run tasks at a lower cost in exchange for slower speeds and occasional resource unavailability. Ideal for non-urgent workloads like evaluations or data enrichment, this beta feature is currently available on the o3 and o4-mini models.
2. Boosted Safety with Biorisk Monitoring
To enhance safety, OpenAI has rolled out a monitoring system for its AI models to detect and prevent responses that could help with biological or chemical threats — a key step in AI responsibility.
3. Meet the New Reasoning Models: o3 & o4 Mini
Just days after the GPT-4.1 launch, OpenAI unveiled two new models: o3, its most advanced reasoning model, and o4 mini, which offers a balance of speed, cost, and performance. These models can browse the web, generate images, and write code — though they tend to hallucinate more than earlier models.4. New “Library” for Easier Image Creation
A new “Library” feature has been added to ChatGPT on mobile and web, giving users easier access to AI-generated images — now available for all tiers.
5. AI Safety Standards May Shift
OpenAI says it might tighten or revise its safety standards if another company launches a high-risk AI system without proper safeguards. The race to lead in AI is creating new pressure to balance safety with speed.
6. Is OpenAI Building a Social Network?
Reports suggest OpenAI is exploring the creation of a new social platform to compete with X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Threads. Details are unclear, but it could be built into ChatGPT or launched as a separate app.
7. Goodbye GPT-4.5 (Soon)
GPT-4.5, OpenAI’s largest model (launched just in February), will be discontinued in July. It will remain accessible until July 14 through the API, after which developers are encouraged to shift to GPT-4.1.
8. New GPT-4.1 Models for Coders
OpenAI has launched three GPT-4.1 variants — GPT-4.1, Mini, and Nano — designed with coding in mind. These models aren’t available through ChatGPT yet but are accessible via API. They’re built to rival Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude.
9. GPT-4 Deprecation in ChatGPT
OpenAI will retire GPT-4 from the ChatGPT app by April 30, making GPT-4o the new default model. GPT-4 will still be available via the API.
10. Smarter ChatGPT: Now Remembers You
ChatGPT is getting more personal. It can now remember past chats and tailor its responses accordingly — rolling out first to Plus and Pro users (excluding the U.K. and parts of Europe).
11. Watermarked AI Images Coming Soon
OpenAI is testing a watermark feature for AI-generated images made with GPT-4o. Early signs also point to new tools like “Structured Thoughts” and “Reasoning Recap” in development.
12. Free ChatGPT Plus for College Students
Great news for students! U.S. and Canadian college students can now access ChatGPT Plus for free through the end of May, unlocking premium features like image generation, voice, and advanced research tools.
13. Over 700 Million AI Images Created
Since the image generator update on March 25, ChatGPT users have created over 700 million images, including viral content like Studio Ghibli-style art.
14. o3 Model Costs May Be Skyrocketing
A recent update suggests OpenAI’s o3 model might be more expensive to run than initially thought — potentially costing up to $30,000 per task, according to the ARC-AGI benchmark team.
15. Product Delays Due to Capacity Issues
CEO Sam Altman shared that OpenAI is facing capacity constraints, leading to delays and occasional service disruptions — especially with the popularity of image generation tools.
March 2025 Highlights
1. A New Open Language Model on the Horizon
OpenAI plans to release its first open-source language model since GPT-2. Developer events will kick off in San Francisco, with Europe and Asia to follow. These events aim to gather feedback and showcase model prototypes.
2. Fewer Image Restrictions in ChatGPT
OpenAI revised its content policies, allowing ChatGPT to generate images of public figures, controversial symbols, and various racial features. The shift follows the viral success of Studio Ghibli-style image generation and reflects a new approach to content moderation.
3. OpenAI Embraces Anthropic’s MCP Standard
The company announced plans to adopt the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source format created by Anthropic. MCP helps AI models provide more relevant responses and allows integration with tools like ChatGPT’s desktop app and API.
4. AI Copyright Issues Emerge
The popularity of Ghibli-style image generation sparked debate over potential copyright violations. Legal concerns continue to grow as AI-generated content mimics copyrighted styles and characters.
5. Revenue Growth Expectations
OpenAI expects to triple its annual revenue to $12.7 billion in 2025 and forecasts further growth to $29.4 billion in 2026. Despite strong financial performance, the company doesn’t expect to break even until 2029.
6. Improved Image Generation Capabilities
ChatGPT’s image generation saw a major upgrade through GPT-4o, allowing users to create and edit images directly in ChatGPT and Sora. Initially available to Pro subscribers, broader rollout has been delayed due to overwhelming demand.
7. Leadership Restructuring
Brad Lightcap will lead OpenAI’s global expansion and partnerships, while CEO Sam Altman focuses on research. Mark Chen was promoted to Chief Research Officer, and Julia Villagra became Chief People Officer.
8. Enhanced AI Voice Assistant
OpenAI improved its voice assistant, offering more natural and engaging interactions. Free-tier users can access a new version, while paying users receive more refined and creative responses.
9. Talks with Reliance in India
OpenAI and Meta have reportedly discussed partnerships with India’s Reliance Industries to expand AI services in the country, including distributing ChatGPT via Jio’s infrastructure.
10. Privacy Complaint in Europe
A Norwegian user, backed by privacy group Noyb, filed a complaint against OpenAI after ChatGPT falsely claimed he had committed serious crimes. The incident highlights ongoing concerns around AI accuracy and compliance with GDPR.
11. Upgraded Speech Models
New transcription and voice models — “gpt-4o-mini-tts,” “gpt-4o-transcribe,” and “gpt-4o-mini-transcribe” — promise more accurate and lifelike voice generation and transcription.
12. Introduction of o1-pro Reasoning Model
OpenAI released o1-pro, a more powerful version of its o1 model. It offers improved reasoning and costs significantly more to use, aimed at developers requiring high-performance AI.
13. Reasoning Models Could Have Arrived Sooner
OpenAI research lead Noam Brown believes today’s reasoning models could’ve been created 20 years ago if researchers had discovered the right methods.
14. AI for Creative Writing
Sam Altman revealed OpenAI has trained a new model highly capable of creative writing. Despite some doubts, the model impressed with a metafictional story about AI and grief.
15. Tools for Building AI Agents
OpenAI launched new tools to help businesses build autonomous AI agents using its Responses API, which will eventually replace the Assistants API by mid-2026.
16. Premium “Agents” Coming Soon
OpenAI reportedly plans to offer high-performance AI agents tailored to different industries, with prices ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 per month. These tools are designed for use in research, engineering, and business operations.
17. ChatGPT Now Edits Code in Developer Tools
The macOS ChatGPT app now supports direct code editing in platforms like Xcode and VS Code. The feature is available to Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers, with more tiers to follow.
18. ChatGPT User Growth Surges
ChatGPT’s weekly active users surged from 100M to 400M between November 2023 and February 2025. A16z credits this spike to the release of GPT-4o and other new features.
February 2025
1. Unified GPT-5 to Replace o3 Model
OpenAI has canceled plans to launch its o3 model as a standalone release. Instead, CEO Sam Altman announced a shift toward a more streamlined approach, integrating o3’s capabilities into the forthcoming GPT-5 model. GPT-5 will consolidate various advancements into one next-gen model accessible through ChatGPT and OpenAI’s API.
2. ChatGPT Uses Less Energy Than Expected
A new study by Epoch AI revealed that ChatGPT’s energy consumption is lower than previously estimated. Contrary to the belief that each query uses 3 watt-hours, the updated estimate is closer to 0.3 watt-hours when using GPT-4o. However, the study doesn’t include additional energy costs for features like image generation.
3. More Transparent Reasoning in o3-mini
In response to competition from platforms like DeepSeek, OpenAI has made the o3-mini model more transparent. Users will now see a clearer “chain of thought” when ChatGPT answers questions, providing insights into how the AI arrives at its conclusions.
4. Web Search Now Available Without Login
OpenAI has enabled anonymous access to ChatGPT’s web search functionality. Users can now perform web-based queries on ChatGPT.com without needing to sign in, though the mobile app still requires login credentials.
5. New “Deep Research” ChatGPT Agent
A new ChatGPT agent, called “deep research,” has been introduced for users seeking thorough, multi-source information gathering. This tool helps users dive deep into complex topics, beyond quick summaries, and is intended for serious research efforts using multiple data sources.
January 2025
1. AI Persuasion Tested on Reddit
OpenAI conducted an experiment using the subreddit r/ChangeMyView to assess how persuasive its AI models can be. The models responded to real Reddit posts with arguments intended to shift users’ opinions. These replies were evaluated by testers and compared to human-written responses to gauge persuasiveness.
2. o3-mini Model Released
OpenAI launched the o3-mini model, a new entry in its “o” series of AI reasoning models. While less powerful than the unreleased o3, o3-mini is positioned as an affordable yet capable reasoning tool, suited for a wide range of applications.
3. ChatGPT User Demographics Skew Young and Male
Appfigures reported that 85% of ChatGPT mobile users are male, and more than half are under 25. Interestingly, users aged 50–64 also represent a large segment, making them the second-largest age group.
4. ChatGPT for U.S. Government Use
OpenAI launched ChatGPT Gov, a special version of its platform tailored for U.S. government agencies. This version mirrors many features from ChatGPT Enterprise but emphasizes security, privacy, and compliance with federal standards, supporting workflows that involve non-public data.
5. Teens Relying More on ChatGPT for Schoolwork
A Pew Research Center survey found that 26% of U.S. teens (ages 13–17) have used ChatGPT for school-related tasks — a sharp increase from two years prior. While most teens believe using AI for research is acceptable, concerns persist due to the tool’s limitations and potential inaccuracies.
6. Operator Data May Be Stored for 90 Days
OpenAI disclosed that its AI agent tool, Operator, might retain user data — including chats and screenshots — for up to 90 days after deletion. This is a longer retention period than the 30-day policy currently in place for ChatGPT.
7. Operator – A Browser-Based AI Agent
OpenAI unveiled “Operator,” a general-purpose AI agent capable of autonomously performing tasks via a web browser. Operator can handle tasks like booking flights, making restaurant reservations, and online shopping — providing an early glimpse of OpenAI’s vision for autonomous AI agents.
8. Early Access to Operator for Pro Users
Code found in ChatGPT’s backend suggests Operator may be offered soon to Pro plan users, who pay $200/month. While not officially launched, these clues indicate that OpenAI could soon release a research preview of the tool to high-tier subscribers.
9. Phone Number Signups in Testing
To streamline onboarding, OpenAI began testing a simplified sign-up process for ChatGPT that requires only a phone number — no email needed. While still in beta in the U.S. and India, users without an email cannot upgrade to paid tiers or enable multi-factor authentication.
10. ChatGPT Adds Task Reminders
A new beta feature called “tasks” allows ChatGPT to function as a reminder assistant. Users can ask it to set notifications — like reminding them when their passport expires — and receive alerts via push notifications. This feature is gradually rolling out to Plus, Team, and Pro users.
11. Customize ChatGPT’s Personality with Traits
OpenAI tested a new feature that lets users personalize ChatGPT’s personality by assigning it “traits” like “chatty,” “encouraging,” or “Gen Z.” Users could also set preferred names or nicknames for the chatbot. However, the feature has since disappeared for some users, possibly indicating it was launched prematurely or remains under testing.
Reference: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/21/chatgpt-everything-to-know-about-the-ai-chatbot/
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