ChatGPT plugins and web browsing beta rollout for Plus users

OpenAI announced the latest version of ChatGPT, including the beta launch of web browsing and an incredible 70 plugins for ChatGPT Plus users.

This version takes the artificial intelligence platform to a new level and changes the tasks users can do with ChatGPT.

From entertainment and shopping to job hunting and weather forecasting, these experimental features are poised to revolutionize the user experience and bring a wealth of possibilities to your chat interface.

As we step into this new era of AI-driven web interaction, let’s dive into what this means for ChatGPT users.

Opt for experimental ChatGPT features

ChatGPT Plus users should have access to the beta of 70 plugins and web browsing in the latest version of ChatGPT.

Early access to experimental features can be found in the ChatGPT Plus user settings in the Beta Features section.

With beta features enabled, you should see the updated look and feel when accessing the May 12 ChatGPT release. Plugins, web browsing and code interpreters are available under GPT-4.

Selective web surfing

In beta, web browsers and plugins should know when and how to use these features to respond to a user’s request.

For example, if I ask ChatGPT for today’s top news on a certain topic, web browsing knows it’s going straight to the web.

This test only summarized information from a news article referenced in nearly a dozen citation links while surfing the web.

A second web browser test for today’s social media news revealed a similar pattern: it listed 15 news posts, all from a news site.

70 Third Party ChatGPT Plugins

With 70 3rd party plugins in the plugin store, users can use GPT-4 for entertainment, DIY, investing, job search, marketing, prompt generation, shopping, tutoring, weather and more.

Despite the large selection of plugins, you can only activate three for a chat.

Since I was looking for a way to use AI to analyze PDFs, I was excited to try a PDF plugin. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done.

The Zillow plugin found the houses that most closely matched my needs, although it couldn’t find anything that matched them exactly.

It shows that ChatGPT plugins have the potential to transform the way we do many things online.

Key phases for new feature releases

In addition to the release notes, OpenAI recently explained the key phases of the new feature releases for ChatGPT.

The first phase allows a small group of users to test new features (alpha), followed by a second phase of ChatGPT Plus users who have opted into new features (beta), ending with general availability.

In alpha and beta, OpenAI may collect user feedback prior to a general release to improve user experience, increase stability, and meet quality standards.

As an alpha or beta user, you can influence the effectiveness and accuracy of new features by providing feedback on the options provided.

Creating ChatGPT plugins

Developers who want to create ChatGPT plugins can join the plugin waitlist.

Once approved, the OpenAI documentation will walk you through creating a plugin like those from Instacart, Expedia, KAYAK, and other brands.

Big tech companies are fighting for AI dominance

OpenAI’s new version of ChatGPT comes after Google expanded Bard globally and Microsoft announced the next generation of Bing AI capabilities.

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