ChatGPT’s recent timeline exhibits pivotal developments and challenges. From reactivating subscriptions and partnering with Axel Springer for real-time news to privacy concerns and its role in legal rulings, it’s been a dynamic period. Noteworthy milestones include surpassing mobile app installations and revenue, one-year anniversary celebrations, and the integration of ChatGPT Voice. Leadership upheavals, including Sam Altman’s return and subsequent departure, underscore a period of flux. Despite accolades, ChatGPT faced allegations of aiding phishing and influencing legislation. Uncertainty looms with the delayed GPT store launch and ongoing concerns about the AI’s behavior, highlighting both achievements and ethical dilemmas.
ChatGPT’s journey in recent months reflects a whirlwind of achievements and controversies. From reinstating subscriptions to significant partnerships and AI breakthroughs, it’s been a year of milestones. However, this period hasn’t been without challenges—privacy concerns, allegations of aiding phishing, and uncertainties about leadership changes. ChatGPT’s widespread usage, mobile app success, and legal applications mark its profound impact. But with the delayed GPT store launch and ongoing behavioral issues, questions arise about its future trajectory. This turbulent timeline encapsulates both triumphs and ethical complexities faced by AI in the modern era.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the text-generation AI chatbot, has made an indelible mark worldwide. Initially designed to boost productivity by aiding in essay writing and coding through brief text prompts, it has transformed into a formidable tool adopted by over 92% of Fortune 500 companies, catering to a broader spectrum of requirements. This phenomenal growth has thrust OpenAI into the limelight, though the firing and subsequent swift return of CEO and co-founder Sam Altman sparked concerns about the company’s trajectory, creating opportunities for competitors to step in.
The repercussions for OpenAI, ChatGPT, and their overarching aspirations are yet to be fully realized. This upheaval might embolden rivals like Meta, with its LLaMA family of expansive language models, or shine a spotlight on other AI startups, drawing attention and funding while the industry observes OpenAI’s restructuring.
Despite ChatGPT’s potential darker implications, it’s evident that AI tools are firmly entrenched and poised for continued prominence. Within just under a year since its launch, ChatGPT has amassed 100 million weekly active users, prompting substantial investments from OpenAI.
Before the upheaval in leadership, OpenAI hosted its inaugural developer conference, OpenAI DevDay, on November 6. This event heralded numerous updates for GPT, notably the introduction of GPT-4 Turbo—an enhanced iteration of GPT-4, its most recent language-generation model. Additionally, OpenAI unveiled a multimodal API and a GPT store enabling users to craft and monetize their personalized versions of GPT.
GPT-4, renowned for its more natural and fluent writing capabilities compared to its predecessors, primarily caters to paying ChatGPT subscribers. However, free access to GPT-4 is available through Microsoft’s Bing Chat on Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Safari web browsers. Beyond GPT-4 and the OpenAI DevDay revelations, OpenAI has recently linked ChatGPT to the internet for all users. Moreover, the integration of DALL-E 3 allows users to generate both text prompts and images directly within ChatGPT.
Outlined below is a timeline showcasing the product updates and releases of ChatGPT, with the latest information updated throughout the year. For additional queries, feel free to peruse our ChatGPT FAQ.
Here’s a timeline of the recent updates and events related to ChatGPT:
December 2023
– OpenAI Reopens ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions: After a pause in November due to a surge in usage, CEO Sam Altman announces the reactivation of ChatGPT Plus subscriptions. This subscription includes access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo.
– OpenAI Partners with Axel Springer for Real-Time ChatGPT News: A partnership with Axel Springer, a Berlin-based news publisher, aims to offer real-time news content through AI tools. OpenAI will train its AI models using the publisher’s content and integrate recent articles into ChatGPT.
– Stanford Research on ChatGPT and Cheating: Stanford University’s research reveals that the popularity of chatbots like ChatGPT hasn’t caused a rise in cheating across U.S. high schools. Cheating rates remain consistent despite the presence of these chatbots.
– Users Speculate Seasonal Changes in ChatGPT Behavior: ChatGPT users observe a perceived sluggishness in the chatbot’s responses since November. Some attribute this to seasonal variations or a simulated form of seasonal depression in the AI.
– U.K. Judges Allowed to Use ChatGPT in Legal Rulings: The U.K. Judicial Office issues guidance permitting judges to utilize ChatGPT and other AI tools for legal purposes while emphasizing responsible usage to avoid bias and maintain privacy.
– OpenAI Updates Terms: Repeating Words “Forever” Now a Violation: Following an experiment by Google DeepMind that prompted ChatGPT to repeat parts of its training data, OpenAI flags requesting the chatbot to repeat specific words “forever” as a violation of its terms of service.
– Brazilian Legislation Enacted from ChatGPT’s Generated Proposal: Legislation drafted entirely by ChatGPT was passed by city lawmakers in Porto Alegre, Brazil, without their awareness of its AI origin until after approval.
– Report: OpenAI Delays GPT Store Launch to 2024: Axios reports a delay in the launch of the GPT store, initially anticipated to open after OpenAI’s DevDay conference. The store would enable custom GPT versions but is now postponed to early 2024.
November 2023
– ChatGPT Mobile Apps Surpass 110M Installs and $30M in Revenue: After launching for iOS and Android, the combined installations of ChatGPT’s mobile apps exceeded 110 million, generating nearly $30 million in consumer spending.
– One-Year Anniversary Celebration: OpenAI commemorates one year since the launch of ChatGPT, reflecting on its transformative journey in a post by CEO Sam Altman.
– Absence from Apple and Google’s ‘App of the Year’ Recognition: Despite ChatGPT’s mobile app success, neither Apple nor Google named an AI app as their ‘app of the year’ for 2023.
– Privacy Concerns Raised by DeepMind Test: A test by Google DeepMind revealed potential privacy issues within OpenAI’s models, showcasing identifiable information after repetitive prompts.
– AI Chatbots Linked to Surge in Phishing Emails: A report alleges a substantial increase in phishing emails, attributing the rise to AI tools like ChatGPT being utilized by cybercriminals to create sophisticated fraudulent emails.
– Investigation Over Allegations of ChatGPT-Generated Speech: Speculation arose regarding South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech potentially being written using ChatGPT. Officials are investigating these claims.
– ChatGPT Voice as Siri Replacement: OpenAI’s ChatGPT Voice, available to all free users, can replace Siri on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max devices, allowing users to interact with ChatGPT through voice commands.
– Sam Altman’s Return as CEO: Altman’s return to OpenAI is announced, marking a restructuring of the board with a focus on non-profit aspects, addressing concerns about the commercialization of AI tools.
– ChatGPT Voice Access for Free Users: Despite leadership changes, OpenAI continues releasing updates, rolling out ChatGPT Voice to all free users, allowing text-to-speech interactions.
– Uncertainty Surrounding Altman’s Return: Amidst ongoing changes, uncertainties persist about Altman’s return to OpenAI or a potential move to Microsoft, contingent on board and employee support.
– Confirmation of Altman’s Departure: Following negotiations, it is confirmed that Altman will not return as OpenAI’s CEO, signaling new leadership and raising questions about the future direction of ChatGPT.
– Sam Altman Ousted as OpenAI’s CEO: Altman’s sudden removal from the CEO position sparks speculation and subsequent confirmations of his departure from OpenAI.
ChatGPT’s recent timeline captures a tale of triumphs and ethical quandaries. Notable achievements include subscription reactivation, partnerships, and impressive app success. However, concerns about privacy, phishing allegations, and behavioral anomalies have marred its journey. Leadership upheavals, marked by Altman’s return and departure, add to the uncertainty. The delayed GPT store launch further clouds ChatGPT’s future. Despite ethical concerns, its impact on news, legal applications, and voice technology remains substantial. This tumultuous period underscores the duality of AI’s advancements and the challenges it grapples with in navigating ethical boundaries.
