OpenAI has once again raised the bar for what is possible with artificial intelligence. In a move that is sure to shake up the AI industry, the company has released GPT-4o, its latest and most advanced language model to date.
However, what makes this release interesting is OpenAI’s decision to make GPT-4o available for free to all users of its popular ChatGPT platform.
This free release of GPT-4o represents a significant departure from OpenAI’s previous strategy, where access to the company’s cutting-edge AI models was limited to paid subscribers of ChatGPT Plus.
With GPT-4o, OpenAI is democratizing its technologies, giving everyone an opportunity to experience the power and capabilities of this formidable language model, which can process text, audio, and images with unprecedented sophistication.
In addition to GPT-4o, OpenAI has also opened up several features that were previously exclusive to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, such as web browsing, memory retention, and image analysis capabilities. This move has inevitably raised questions about the value proposition of the $20 monthly subscription fee for ChatGPT Plus.
As the lines between the free and paid versions of ChatGPT become blurred, users may find themselves reevaluating their need for a paid subscription.
What the Free ChatGPT Tier Offers
As mentioned, OpenAI has made its latest flagship model, the GPT-4o available to all ChatGPT users entirely for free, with no subscription required. At the time of this article’s publication, the new multimodal model and associated features had not yet been rolled out in Kenya.
This new AI model can understand and generate human-like language, comprehend audio inputs, and perceive visual information – pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible with large language models.
Also Read: OpenAI reveals Sora, its text to video AI model
However, free users shouldn’t expect unlimited usage. To ensure fair access and prevent system overload, OpenAI has implemented hourly rate limits on how many prompts non-paying users can send to GPT-4o.
So while the power of this cutting-edge AI is now democratized, strategic usage is advised to maximize the free allotment.
But the free tier isn’t just about GPT-4o; it represents a massive upgrade with a suite of premium capabilities that were previously exclusive to paid ChatGPT Plus subscribers:
- The GPT Store: A vibrant marketplace where developers, researchers, and enthusiasts can publish custom AI companions with tailored instructions, personalities, and knowledge bases.
- Web Browsing and Long-Term Memory: GPT-4o can now surf the internet and maintain contextual awareness over extended multi-turn conversations, enhancing its capabilities.
- Multimodal Inputs: Users can feed images, documents, audio recordings and other rich data into the AI model alongside text prompts for more comprehensive analysis.
This expansive set of advanced AI features, now freely accessible, vastly enhances the creative and productive potential for users across diverse domains like education, business, arts, and research. What was once limited to paying subscribers is being opened up to the world.
Why the ChatGPT Plus Subscription Retains Value
While the free offering is remarkably generous, OpenAI has ensured that its $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscription remains an enticing option with key exclusive benefits:
1. Higher Usage Quotas
Paid subscribers can send up to 5 times more prompts to GPT-4o per hour compared to free users before hitting the rate limit. For power users who require extended AI assistance sessions, this higher ceiling offers invaluable flexibility.
2. Early Access to Cutting-Edge Features
OpenAI continues to prioritize its paying customers for initial rollouts of breakthrough capabilities before any public release. The recently demoed voice mode, allowing natural language queries and responses via speech input/output, is a prime example heading to Plus accounts in the coming weeks.
During the unveiling, OpenAI’s Gregory Zoph demonstrated the voice assistant’s remarkably natural-sounding vocals. It could even translate between languages like English and Italian in real-time based on the video feed. “The creative use cases people will discover with this are going to be incredible,” Zoph remarked.
3. Exclusive Desktop App Access (Initially)
Plus users will get exclusive early access to ChatGPT’s first dedicated desktop application for Mac, with a Windows version coming later this year. This app promises seamless desktop integration, such as instantly summarizing web pages by capturing screenshots.
4. Funding Advanced Research
Subscription revenues help sustain OpenAI’s research into even more powerful AI models and applications, pushing technological boundaries.
While the free ChatGPT tier has become astoundingly capable with GPT-4o and numerous premium features, the Plus subscription caters to those who require higher usage caps, a smooth desktop experience, and early access to OpenAI’s latest breakthroughs, like voice mode.
For casual users exploring AI, the free version offers a generous tasting platter, and I honestly don’t think you need the Plus subscription. But for professionals, power users, and tech enthusiasts who want to immerse themselves in the full depths of OpenAI’s AI prowess and innovations, the $20 monthly investment may be well worth it.
