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What is ChatGPT, and is it safe to use?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot made by a company called OpenAI. You type a question and it writes an answer that sounds like a person. It’s free to use, with paid plans if you want more. It’s safe to use if you check anything important it tells you and never type in private details.

Beginner3 min readUpdated

What it is

ChatGPT learned from a huge amount of writing on the internet, including conversations, so its answers can sound very human. You can use it at chatgpt.com or in the ChatGPT app.

People use it to explain things in simpler words, draft emails and letters, plan trips or meals, and brainstorm ideas. For more on chatbots in general, see What is an AI chatbot?

What it costs

OpenAI says ChatGPT is free to use. There are also paid subscription plans with extra features. You don’t need to pay anything to try it.

The official website is chatgpt.com. Type it in yourself rather than following a link or an advert.

What it gets wrong

OpenAI says ChatGPT’s answers “may be inaccurate, untruthful, and otherwise misleading at times”, and that it will occasionally make up facts. This is sometimes called “hallucinating”.

  • Check anything that matters on an official website, especially dates, prices, phone numbers and opening times.
  • Don’t use it instead of a professional for health, money or legal questions.
  • If an answer is wrong, you can tell OpenAI by tapping the thumbs down button under it.

Who can see your chats

  • OpenAI says it reviews conversations to improve its systems and check they follow its rules.
  • OpenAI may use what you type to train its AI, unless you turn that off. Here’s how to turn it off.
  • You can delete whole chats or your whole account. OpenAI’s privacy policy says deleted data is removed from its systems within 30 days, unless it has to keep it for safety or legal reasons.
  • OpenAI says it can’t delete individual messages from a chat, and asks people not to share sensitive information.

What never to type in

  • Passwords, PINs or codes sent to your phone.
  • Bank or card details.
  • Your National Insurance or Social Security number, or medical records.
  • Private details about other people.

ChatGPT will never need your password or bank details to answer a question. If something claiming to be ChatGPT asks for them, close it.

Next: stop ChatGPT using your chats to train its AI.

Sources