The free version of ChatGPT just got a whole heap better
For a while now, I’ve advised steering clear of the free version of ChatGPT, which had fallen a long way behind the paid-for version and other free AI chatbots such as Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Claude.
Here were some of the ways in which is was lagging behind:
1.) It’s training data only went up to Jan 2022
2.) It couldn’t browse the web
3.) It couldn't view/explain images
4.) It couldn’t create images
5.) It couldn’t read documents
6.) It couldn’t visualise data
7.) You couldn’t tailor versions of it
8.) It had worse reasoning and attention to detail
9.) It’s wasn’t great with non-English languages
Today, OpenAI announced a new model, GPT-4o, which is being plumbed into the free version of ChatGPT, as well as the paid version.
Whilst usage of the new model isn’t unlimited in the free version (and the model’s impressive new voice capabilities are initially only rolling out to paid subscribers), it enables everyone with an internet connection to get a more representative experience of what AI chatbots are now capable of.
Here’s what’s changed:
1.) The training data now goes up to Apr 2023 📆
2.) It can browse the web for up-to-date information 👨💻🌐
3.) It can view/explain images 🖼️🧐
4.) It can create images 👨🎨📷
5.) It can read documents🤓📄
5.) It can visualise data 📊📈
6.) You can tailor version of it 🪡🩱
7.) It’s got better reasoning and attention to detail 🧠🔍
8.) It’s better with non-English languages ㊗️
To illustrate some of the differences, I asked the old and new models:
Who is the UK Prime Minister?
How is Brexit going?
Draw me a picture of a cat on a skateboard
Create a bar chart of UK interest rates over the last 24 months
Explain the fall of the Roman Empire in exactly 5 words
See below image for the contrasting responses.
The roll out of the new model is staggered so check the model number next to ChatGPT at the top of the page (you want 4o rather than 3.5). If you’re not yet seeing 4o then try again tomorrow.