# ChatGPT Launch (2022)

ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot by OpenAI, launched on November 30, 2022, using large language models to generate text, speech, and images. It accelerated the AI boom, reaching 100 million monthly users within two months.

ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot developed by [OpenAI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/openai), released on November 30, 2022. It uses [large language models](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) based on [transformers](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/transformer) to generate text, speech, and images in response to user prompts. The product accelerated the [AI boom](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai), a period of rapid investment and public attention toward [artificial intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence). OpenAI operates ChatGPT on a freemium model, allowing interaction through text, audio, and image inputs.

ChatGPT was quickly adopted, reaching 100 million monthly active users two months after release and 900 million weekly active users by February 2026. Proponents highlight its potential to transform professional fields, while critics point to limitations such as hallucinations, biases, and ethical concerns over training data.

## Features and Capabilities

ChatGPT is designed to generate human-like text and perform a wide range of tasks, including writing and debugging code, composing music, scripts, and essays, answering questions, and generating business concepts. It is frequently used for translation and summarization, and can simulate interactive environments like a Linux terminal or simple games. Users interact through conversations with text, audio, and image prompts, with an optional Memory feature for personalization.

In March 2023, OpenAI added plugin support, including web browsing and code interpretation, plus external plugins from companies like Expedia and Zapier. From October to December 2024, ChatGPT Search was deployed, allowing web searches for more accurate responses, increasing competition with search engines. In December 2024, a feature enabled free phone calls to ChatGPT for up to 15 minutes monthly. In October 2025, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas, a browser integrating the assistant, with an "agentic mode" for autonomous online actions.

## Paid Tier and Mobile Apps

ChatGPT initially launched free and remains free with limits. In February 2023, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month, followed by a Pro tier at $200 per month in December 2024, coinciding with the o1 model release. In August 2025, ChatGPT Go was offered in India for ₹399 per month. Mobile apps for iOS and Android launched between May and July 2023, with a Windows app released on October 15, 2024.

## Language Support and Translation

OpenAI has worked to improve ChatGPT's multilingual capabilities. In 2023, a team of 40 Icelandic volunteers fine-tuned its Icelandic skills as part of preservation efforts. That year, ChatGPT based on GPT-4 outperformed Bing, Bard, and DeepL in Japanese-to-English translation. In December 2023, the Albanian government used ChatGPT for translating EU documents. Studies show ChatGPT can outperform Google Translate in some tasks, though no machine translation matches human experts as of 2024.

## Customization and Advanced Features

In November 2023, OpenAI released GPT Builder, allowing users to create custom GPTs. The GPT Store launched in January 2024 with over 3 million GPTs. In September 2025, support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) was added, and in July 2026, ChatGPT apps were renamed to plugins. In February 2025, Deep Research was released, generating reports from extensive web searches using the o3 reasoning model.

Image generation was integrated in October 2023 with DALL-E 3, and updated in March 2025 to use GPT Image, improving text rendering in images. Images include C2PA metadata for AI verification. In 2025, agentic features like Operator were introduced, enabling autonomous browser tasks such as filling forms and placing orders.

## Impact and Reception

ChatGPT's launch marked a turning point in public engagement with AI, driving investment and debate about creativity and knowledge work. Its rapid adoption influenced [machine learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) research and industry practices, with competitors like [Anthropic](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/anthropic) and [Google DeepMind](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/google-deepmind) responding. Despite its successes, concerns about misinformation, academic dishonesty, and ethical development persist, shaping ongoing discussions about responsible AI deployment.

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Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/chatgpt-launch-2022
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
Last updated: 2026-09-12T16:21:50.507619+00:00