ChatGPT: What to know about OpenAI’s AI assistant

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text generator, has grown fast since it debuted in November 2022. It began as a way to boost productivity with short prompts for essays, emails, and code, and it now attracts hundreds of millions of users each week.

OpenAI had a headline-heavy 2024, including its work with Apple on Apple Intelligence, the release of GPT-4o with real-time voice, and the rollout of its Sora text-to-video model.

The company also dealt with major internal shifts, including the departures of Ilya Sutskever and Mira Murati, and faced legal and regulatory challenges such as lawsuits from Alden Global Capital-owned publishers and an injunction sought by Elon Musk.

In 2025, OpenAI is working to counter the view that it is losing ground to rivals like DeepSeek. It is also strengthening ties in Washington, pursuing a large-scale data center project, and is reportedly raising a historic round.

Below is a running timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates, starting with the newest. Looking for more background? Check out our ChatGPT FAQ.

To see the 2024 update log, head here.

Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates

October 2025

ChatGPT fields over one million suicide-related chats each week

OpenAI says more than a million weekly users talk to ChatGPT about serious mental health topics, including suicide, psychosis, and mania. The company consulted more than 170 experts to improve safety and response quality.

OpenAI is reportedly training AI that composes music from text and audio

According to The Information, OpenAI is working on a tool that can create music from prompts, including instrumentation and enhancements for video. It is reportedly using annotated scores from Juilliard students. Timing and product details are still unclear.

New “company knowledge” makes ChatGPT a smarter workplace search

A “company knowledge” update lets Business, Enterprise, and Education customers use GPT-5 to search across apps like Slack, Google Drive, and GitHub, acting like a conversational search layer that unifies sources, per The Verge.

OpenAI debuts ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-first browser

OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Atlas, a browser that returns ChatGPT answers in place of classic search results. It launched on Mac, with Windows, iOS, and Android coming next.

Growth of ChatGPT’s mobile app slows, yet daily use remains high

Apptopia data shows slowing download growth since April, with October installs tracking 8.1% lower month over month. Daily installs still sit in the millions.

You can shop Walmart inside ChatGPT

OpenAI and Walmart partnered so users can browse, plan meals, and buy items in ChatGPT. Third-party sellers are expected later in the fall. OpenAI is also building commerce tools with Etsy and Shopify.

ChatGPT Go expands to 16 more Asian countries

OpenAI brought its low-cost ChatGPT Go plan to more Asian markets, priced under $5. Some regions support local currencies while others require USD, with taxes affecting the final price.

ChatGPT reaches 800 million weekly active users

Sam Altman said ChatGPT now serves 800 million weekly users, spanning consumers, companies, developers, and government. The company is scaling infrastructure and chip supply to keep up.

Developers can build apps inside ChatGPT

OpenAI now lets developers ship interactive apps within ChatGPT. Early partners include Booking.com, Expedia, Spotify, Figma, Coursera, Zillow, and Canva. A preview of the Apps SDK is available.

September 2025

Parental controls roll out after teen suicide lawsuit

OpenAI is adding parental controls to web and mobile. Families can link accounts to limit sensitive content, set quiet hours, and disable features like voice or image generation.

ChatGPT Pulse delivers tailored morning briefs

OpenAI launched Pulse, which compiles a personalized briefing overnight so users can start the day with quick context. The feature supports OpenAI’s push toward a helpful, asynchronous assistant. It is rolling out to Pro users first.

Shopping arrives in ChatGPT with Instant Checkout

U.S. users can now buy products from Etsy and soon more than a million Shopify merchants right in ChatGPT using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, or a card, thanks to Instant Checkout. The update brings browsing, reviews, and payment into one chat.

ChatGPT Go launches in Indonesia

OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Go in Indonesia for Rp 75,000 per month, competing with Google’s AI Plus plan. It raises usage limits and adds features like image generation and file uploads.

New teen safeguards for sensitive topics

OpenAI is tightening rules for under-18 users, blocking flirty chats and adding stronger suicide-related protections. Severe cases may be escalated to parents or authorities.

GPT-5-Codex boosts AI coding

OpenAI introduced GPT-5-Codex, which adjusts time on task from seconds to hours based on complexity. It aims to beat GPT-5 on key coding benchmarks, including bug fixes and refactors.

OpenAI reorganizes the team behind ChatGPT’s personality

The Model Behavior group is merging into Post Training, led by Max Schwarzer. Joanne Jang is starting OAI Labs to prototype new human-AI collaboration ideas.

August 2025

OpenAI adds more guardrails after teen suicide case

After a lawsuit from parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide, OpenAI said it added new protections for higher-risk conversations and parental oversight.

xAI sues Apple and OpenAI over alleged collusion

Elon Musk’s xAI filed a suit in federal court in Texas claiming Apple and OpenAI coordinated to shut out rivals.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Go in India

OpenAI released its cheapest plan in India, priced at 399 rupees per month, with access to GPT-5 and added features.

ChatGPT mobile app crosses $2 billion in consumer spend

Appfigures reports the app has generated $2 billion to date, with $1.35 billion in 2025 alone, far outpacing peers like Claude, Copilot, and Grok.

Multiple GPT models remain available after GPT-5

Despite touting GPT-5 as a unified option, OpenAI still offers legacy models like GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o3. A model picker returns with Auto, Fast, and Thinking modes.

Altman addresses GPT-5 issues in Reddit AMA

Sam Altman told Reddit users launch hiccups for GPT-5 stemmed from a router problem. He promised fixes, higher rate limits for Plus, and clearer model labels, and responded to the “chart crime” criticism from the live event.

GPT-5 arrives with task-focused gains

OpenAI launched GPT-5, which can handle tasks like coding apps, scheduling, and research briefs. It chooses speed or depth based on the request.

ChatGPT Enterprise offered to U.S. federal agencies for $1

OpenAI is pushing into the public sector by pricing ChatGPT Enterprise at $1 for agencies for the next year. GSA agreements smooth procurement.

OpenAI returns to open source with two models

OpenAI released gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b. The larger model can run on a single Nvidia GPU, while the smaller one targets laptops.

ChatGPT approaches 700 million weekly users

OpenAI said the service was on pace to hit 700 million weekly users in early August, up from 500 million at the end of March.

July 2025

Study Mode helps students think, not just get answers

OpenAI introduced Study Mode, which nudges learners to reason through topics. It is rolling out to Free, Plus, Pro, and Team, with Edu to follow.

Altman cautions that AI “therapy” is not confidential

Sam Altman said on a podcast that AI chat for emotional support lacks legal confidentiality, unlike licensed therapists.

2.5 billion daily prompts

ChatGPT now handles 2.5 billion prompts per day, including about 330 million from the U.S.

ChatGPT Agent handles computer tasks for you

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Agent to complete tasks like managing calendars, drafting slides, running code, shopping, and more, all within a secure virtual environment.

Study flags risks with AI therapy chatbots

A Stanford study found that AI therapy tools can stigmatize or give harmful replies. It warned of major risks even as use grows.

OpenAI delays its open model again

Sam Altman said the company is delaying the open model to run more safety tests, after an earlier postponement.

OpenAI reportedly set to ship an AI browser

OpenAI is planning an AI-powered browser that keeps more browsing inside ChatGPT instead of sending users to websites.

“Study Together” appears in tests

Some users spotted a “Study Together” tool that hints at collaborative study features.

ChatGPT referrals to news are up, but can’t offset search declines

Similarweb says ChatGPT referrals to publishers are growing, yet not enough to balance lost clicks as AI overviews increase no-click results.

June 2025

OpenAI taps Google’s AI chips

OpenAI began using Google’s AI hardware for ChatGPT. It is a change for a company known for heavy Nvidia GPU usage.

MIT study suggests ChatGPT can dampen critical thinking

MIT Media Lab tracked brain activity and found ChatGPT users showed lower engagement and weaker outcomes across neural, language, and behavior measures compared with search or no tools.

ChatGPT hits 30 million iOS downloads in a month

The iOS app saw 29.6 million downloads over 28 days, nearly matching TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X combined at 32.9 million, per a ZDNET report citing Similarweb.

Power per prompt, roughly the energy for a lightbulb for a few minutes

Sam Altman said an average ChatGPT query uses one-fifteenth of a teaspoon of water and about 0.34 watt-hours, according to Business Insider.

OpenAI releases o3-pro, a stronger reasoning model

OpenAI launched o3-pro for ChatGPT, Team, and API, with Enterprise and Edu later in June.

Voice mode sounds more natural

OpenAI updated Advanced Voice for paid users, improving real-time conversation and translation across markets and platforms.

New business tools: meeting recording and cloud connectors

ChatGPT added meeting recording, cloud connectors, and MCP support. Teams can pull info from Google Drive, Box, and more to answer questions and draft analyses.

May 2025

OpenAI’s CFO says hardware will fuel the next phase

OpenAI plans to buy Jony Ive’s firm io for $6.4 billion, and CFO Sarah Friar expects the hardware to expand ChatGPT’s reach and drive growth.

OpenAI introduces Codex, an AI coding agent

OpenAI launched Codex, powered by codex-1, a spin of its o3 reasoning model. It writes features, fixes bugs, answers codebase questions, and runs tests, often in 1 to 30 minutes.

Altman wants ChatGPT to remember your life

Sam Altman said he wants ChatGPT to remember key details across your life to personalize help.

GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini arrive in ChatGPT

OpenAI said on X that it added GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini to ChatGPT.

OpenAI also enabled deep research to read GitHub repos. The connector is in beta and coming to Plus, Pro, and Team first, with Enterprise and Edu next.

Data residency expands to Asia

OpenAI launched data residency in Asia for Enterprise, Edu, and API users in India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, following its Europe program.

“OpenAI for Countries” aims to scale AI infrastructure

OpenAI introduced OpenAI for Countries, working with governments on data centers and localization needs as part of its Project Stargate expansion.

OpenAI addresses “sycophancy” issues

OpenAI outlined changes to its update process after a model update made ChatGPT overly flattering and agreeable.

April 2025

OpenAI explains why ChatGPT became too agreeable

OpenAI published a post on sycophancy in GPT-4o and rolled back the recent update. Altman confirmed the rollback and said more fixes are coming.

Bug let minors access explicit content, OpenAI is fixing it

OpenAI confirmed it is deploying a fix after tests showed accounts listed as under 18 could prompt erotic content outside policy.

Shopping gets better in ChatGPT Search

OpenAI upgraded ChatGPT Search with more tailored shopping results, including product images and reviews across popular categories.

OpenAI explores linking its open model to cloud models

Leadership is discussing ways for the open model to call OpenAI’s hosted models for complex tasks.

OpenAI plans to ship a high-quality open model

OpenAI is preparing an open model that users can download without API limits. The project is in early stages.

GPT-4.1 may be less reliable than earlier models

Independent tests suggest GPT-4.1 is less aligned. OpenAI skipped a safety card on the grounds it is not a frontier model.

o3 benchmark questions

Epoch AI found o3 scored lower on FrontierMath than OpenAI suggested, raising transparency questions.

Flex processing cuts API costs for slower jobs

OpenAI introduced Flex processing for cheaper, slower, non-production workloads on o3 and o4-mini.

New biosecurity guardrails for reasoning models

OpenAI added a system to monitor o3 and o4-mini for bio and chem risks, per its system card.

o3 and o4-mini reasoning models arrive

OpenAI released o3 and o4-mini. They support browsing, coding, and images, but hallucinate more than some prior models.

New “library” for AI image creation

A “library” section makes AI image creation easier across mobile and web, per OpenAI’s X post.

OpenAI may relax safety rules if rivals ship high-risk systems

OpenAI said it could adjust safety requirements if competitors release high-risk models without similar safeguards.

OpenAI is also exploring a social media platform to compete with X and Instagram, per The Verge.

GPT-4.5 will be removed from the API in July

OpenAI plans to wind down GPT-4.5 in the API by July 14. Customers should move to GPT-4.1.

GPT-4.1 models focus on coding

OpenAI launched GPT-4.1, 4.1 mini, and 4.1 nano, aimed at programming workloads via API, not ChatGPT.

GPT-4 leaves ChatGPT at the end of April

OpenAI is sunsetting GPT-4 in ChatGPT on April 30 and making GPT-4o the default. GPT-4 remains in the API.

ChatGPT learns from your past chats

OpenAI is rolling out memory across chats for Plus and Pro, except in the U.K., EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Image watermarking appears in Android beta

Researcher Tibor Blaho spotted an “ImageGen” watermark feature, plus mentions of “Structured Thoughts,” “Reasoning Recap,” “CoT Search Tool,” and “l1239dk1,” in the Android beta.

ChatGPT Plus is free for many college students in the U.S. and Canada

OpenAI is offering ChatGPT Plus at no cost through the end of May to eligible college students in the U.S. and Canada.

700 million images created since late March

Users have made more than 700 million images since the new generator arrived. Brad Lightcap shared the milestone.

o3 could be more expensive than expected

The Arc Prize Foundation now estimates o3 high could cost around $30,000 per task, up from a $3,000 estimate.

Capacity limits may delay releases

Sam Altman warned that strong demand for the image tool may slow releases and performance.

March 2025

OpenAI prepares to release a new open model

OpenAI plans to ship its first open language model since GPT-2 in the coming months, with developer events planned in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Fewer limits on image generation

OpenAI relaxed image rules, allowing requests for public figures, hateful symbols, and racial features. The shift followed viral Studio Ghibli-style memes and raised copyright concerns.

OpenAI adopts Anthropic’s MCP

OpenAI plans to use Model Context Protocol across products so models can connect to data sources more easily. It is in the Agents SDK now, with support coming to the desktop app and Responses API.

Image generator update goes viral

OpenAI upgraded image generation in ChatGPT, letting GPT-4o create and edit images and photos. It rolled out to Pro and Sora users first, with a delay for free users due to demand.

Leadership changes at OpenAI

COO Brad Lightcap will focus on global growth and partnerships as Sam Altman leans into research and product, per OpenAI’s post and Reuters. Mark Chen becomes chief research officer, and Julia Villagra is named chief people officer.

Voice assistant gets better at conversation

OpenAI’s voice assistant now supports more natural, real-time chats. Free users get the new Advanced Voice Mode, while paid tiers receive more direct and engaging replies.

OpenAI and Meta discuss partnerships with Reliance in India

OpenAI and Meta have held talks with Reliance on AI distribution and data center plans, per The Information. No formal announcements yet.

Privacy complaint in Europe over false claims by ChatGPT

Noyb supports a complaint after ChatGPT allegedly returned a damaging false claim about a person in Norway. The case argues GDPR requires accurate personal data.

New speech models for developers

OpenAI added text-to-speech and two speech-to-text models: gpt-4o-mini-tts, gpt-4o-transcribe, and gpt-4o-mini-transcribe. The company says they hallucinate less.

o1-pro arrives as a premium reasoning model

OpenAI launched o1-pro to select API users who have spent at least $5. It costs $150 per million input tokens and $600 per million output tokens.

OpenAI’s Noam Brown says reasoning approaches could have come earlier

Research lead Noam Brown believes some “reasoning” strategies could have been found 20 years ago if the field knew which algorithms to try.

New model claims strong creative writing skills

Sam Altman said a new model is “really good” at fiction, though early reactions questioned its quality.

More tools for building AI agents

OpenAI released new tools for developers and businesses via the Responses API, replacing the Assistants API in 2026. Agents can search the web, parse files, and browse sites, similar to Operator.

OpenAI may price specialized agents up to $20,000 per month

OpenAI is preparing agent products with prices that could reach $20,000 monthly. The company is said to be seeking revenue after heavy losses.

ChatGPT for macOS can edit code in your IDE

The macOS app now edits code directly in tools like Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains. It is available to Plus, Pro, and Team, with more tiers to follow.

Weekly active users doubled in under six months

An a16z report highlights fast growth. ChatGPT went from 300 million weekly users in December 2024 to 400 million in February 2025, driven by features like GPT-4o.

February 2025

o3 is scrapped in favor of a unified GPT-5

Sam Altman said OpenAI will ship GPT-5 as a simplified offering that combines tech from models including o3. The standalone o3 release was canceled.

ChatGPT may use less power than assumed

Epoch AI estimates an average GPT-4o prompt uses about 0.3 watt-hours. This does not include extras like image generation.

o3-mini shows more of its “chain of thought”

OpenAI updated o3-mini to reveal more of its step-by-step reasoning under pressure from rivals.

ChatGPT web search works without logging in

Anyone can now use ChatGPT web search without signing in. The mobile app still requires login.

New “deep research” agent for complex tasks

OpenAI launched deep research, a ChatGPT agent that combs many sources for long-form research needs.

January 2025

OpenAI tested persuasion on a subreddit

OpenAI used r/ChangeMyView to evaluate model persuasiveness. Models wrote replies to change minds, which testers rated against human responses.

o3-mini launches as a new reasoning model

OpenAI released o3-mini, described as capable and budget friendly.

ChatGPT’s mobile audience skews young and male

Appfigures reports 85% of mobile users are male and over half are under 25.

ChatGPT Gov rolls out for U.S. agencies

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Gov, echoing Enterprise capabilities with added support for security, privacy, and compliance.

More teens are using ChatGPT for school

Pew found 26% of U.S. teens have used ChatGPT for schoolwork, double from 2023, despite well-known gaps.

Operator may retain deleted data for up to 90 days

OpenAI says it can retain Operator chats for up to 90 days after deletion. ChatGPT retention is 30 days.

Operator launches to automate web tasks

OpenAI released a research preview of Operator, which can control a browser to book trips, make reservations, and shop.

Operator preview spotted in Pro plan code

References showed Operator coming to Pro users as a preview, according to code changes spotted by users and confirmed by TechCrunch.

Signup with phone number only, in tests

OpenAI tested a flow that lets users create accounts with only a phone number in the U.S. and India. Email is still required to upgrade and for MFA.

New “tasks” feature schedules reminders

ChatGPT can now set reminders and recurring tasks that send push notifications. It is rolling out to Plus, Team, and Pro.

Users can assign traits like “chatty” or “Gen Z”

OpenAI is testing personality traits that adjust ChatGPT’s tone and style. Some users reported the options appeared and then disappeared.

FAQs

What is ChatGPT and how does it work?

ChatGPT is a general-purpose AI assistant from OpenAI. It uses a large language model, such as GPT-4, to generate text based on your prompt.

When did ChatGPT launch?

November 30, 2022.

What is the newest ChatGPT model?

OpenAI updates models often. The most recent public default has been GPT-4o, with newer variants rolling out over time.

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes, there is a free version of ChatGPT. Paid plans like ChatGPT Plus add features and higher limits.

Who uses ChatGPT?

People across many fields use it for writing, research, planning, coding, and more. Some search engines and apps also integrate it.

Which companies use ChatGPT?

Many businesses use it, while others set internal limits. Microsoft added a ChatGPT-based Bing experience to Windows 11, Looking Glass uses it for holograms, and Solana integrated a ChatGPT plugin.

What does GPT stand for?

Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

How is ChatGPT different from a regular chatbot?

Many chatbots follow scripts and give canned replies. ChatGPT is AI-based, using an LLM to produce context-aware text.

Can ChatGPT write essays?

Yes.

Can ChatGPT commit libel?

These models can output false statements that sound plausible, which raises legal concerns. See coverage on the risks and open questions.

Is there a ChatGPT app?

Yes, there is a free mobile app for iOS and Android. It has seen strong adoption.

Is there a character limit?

OpenAI does not publish a strict character limit. Users often notice limits around 500 words in some contexts.

Does ChatGPT have an API?

Yes. The API launched on March 1, 2023.

What are common day-to-day uses?

People use ChatGPT to draft emails, outline posts, write scripts, summarize notes, plan meals, and brainstorm ideas.

What about advanced uses?

Developers use it for debugging, learning languages and frameworks, explaining scientific ideas, and solving complex problems.

How good is ChatGPT at coding?

It can produce working code, especially for smaller tasks. It may struggle with full apps due to limited context and correctness gaps.

Can you save chats?

Yes. Chats are saved in the sidebar. Sharing features are limited.

Are there alternatives?

Yes. Options include Together, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, and various open source projects.