Generative AI giant OpenAI unleashed its newest product on the world Tuesday. GPT-4, the next-generation large language model, a step up from the one that took the world by storm in the form of ChatGPT, is out.
But unlike with ChatGPT’s launch last November, this isn’t just a web app anyone can try out for free.
What is GPT-4?
If you’re confused as to how we got to number 4 already, given that ChatGPT just came out late last year, a bit of clarity first: OpenAI has been releasing GPT language models since 2018. GPT-3, the third such release, was the most advanced model when ChatGPT, its chatbot product was released in 2022. GPT-4 is the latest and most powerful large language model from Open AI, but currently, if you only have free access to ChatGPT, you’ll still be interacting with the GPT-3 model.
How can I access GPT-4 with ChatGPT+?
If you want to generate text freely with the GPT-4 model, you will need a paid subscription to ChatGPT+, the premium version of ChatGPT. Here’s how to get that:
Credit: Screengrab / OpenAI
As OpenAI’s announcement page for GPT-4 makes clear, GPT-4 is the model being used by ChatGPT, but only if you’re a premium member with access to ChatGPT+ (sometimes styled “ChatGPT Plus”). If you’re logged into your OpenAI account, the button on that page will take you directly to ChatGPT, and if you’re a paying ChatGPT+ user, that’s that. Have fun!
If, however, you’re using a free membership, you’ll need to upgrade. Click the “Upgrade to Plus” button in the left menu.
Credit: Screengrab / OpenAI
You’ll then be served a popup, informing you about the virtues of the “Plus” upgrade.
Credit: Screengrab / OpenAI
The green “Upgrade Plan” button will whisk you to a standard e-commerce sales page, where you’ll need to input the usual information, and cough up $20 per month.
Credit: Screengrab / OpenAI
Once you’re a paying customer, your access to the new model via ChatGPT will be immediate. No waitlist for you.
How to access GPT-4 for free
You can’t currently access GPT-4 with the free version of ChatGPT.
Millions of Bing users, however, can already access the new Bing chatbot. If you’re in that select group, Microsoft has confirmed that GPT-4 is already powering your chatbot interactions.
And soon, you may soon have no choice but to use GPT-4 in your everyday life, because according to OpenAI’s blog post about its uses, GPT-4 is already being put to use by clients as diverse as Khan Academy, Stripe, Morgan Stanley, and the government of Iceland. In other words, there’s a good chance you’re going to be interacting with GPT-4 soon, whether you like it or not.
