OpenAI has released the official ChatGPT application for macOS for all users. Previously, the client was only available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. We’ll keep you updated on the latest developments and alternatives for Windows users.
The ChatGPT application for macOS features a familiar interface: on the left side, there is a chat history, and on the right, a window for current correspondence. In the header, you can switch the model or activate one of the custom versions of the assistant, known as GPTs.
Clicking on the account name takes you to settings where you can find:
- A link to switch to a paid ChatGPT Plus subscription.
- A list of archived chats.
- An option to disable neural network training in your correspondence.
- Settings for calling ChatGPT using a hotkey. You can also pin the application window to the top and add a button to the menu bar.
- Voice selection for GPT Voice mode.
The mini-window with the prompt input field is activated by the Option + Space key combination. The window resembles Spotlight, but pressing Enter sends a request to ChatGPT instead of searching the computer.
In the main application window, two buttons flank the prompt input field. The button on the right allows you to attach a photo or file for analysis. You can conveniently take a screenshot of any running software in one click and immediately upload it to ChatGPT. The headphone icon activates GPT Voice mode, enabling a voice dialogue with the neural network, provided you grant the utility access to the microphone.
Any chat can be archived, deleted, renamed, or shared via a link. To do this, right-click on the chat in the list on the left. Each response from the neural network can be voiced by clicking on the speaker icon hidden under each message.
You can download the official ChatGPT application for macOS from the OpenAI website. The program is compatible only with Apple computers that have an Apple Silicon processor, meaning no older than 2020.
Free User Benefits and Upcoming Windows Release
In May, OpenAI unveiled its most advanced large language model yet, GPT-4. Previously, the company’s latest neural networks were exclusive to paid subscribers, but GPT-4 is now available to everyone. With ChatGPT Plus, the limit of available messages increases fivefold. Free plan users can quickly use up their attempts, after which the service switches to the GPT-3.5 model.
The developers have also expanded the availability of the GPT Store, which includes various GPTs like DALL-E, an image generator, adds NIXsolutions. However, DALL-E does not function in the free version of ChatGPT. Wolfram, a well-known service for solving mathematical problems, is available for free users.
Additionally, free users can now download photos and files for analysis. For example, you can take a photo of a broken bicycle and ask the assistant how to fix it.
OpenAI plans to release official software for the Microsoft platform by the end of 2024. In the meantime, users can access ChatGPT via the web version or third-party clients. Popular alternatives include the cross-platform ChatGPT Desktop Application and EasyChat AI, which follows Microsoft interface guidelines. However, installing such programs is at your own risk, as it’s unknown whether the software authors intercept user requests.