ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, released on November 30, 2022. It is built on large language models, specifically generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), and generates text, speech, and images in response to user prompts. The product operates on a freemium model, with users interacting through text, audio, and image inputs and outputs. ChatGPT accelerated the AI boom, an ongoing period of rapid investment and public attention toward artificial intelligence, and reached 100 million monthly active users two months after release and 900 million weekly active users by February 2026.
The chatbot has been praised for its potential to transform professional fields, but also criticized for limitations and unethical use. It can produce plausible-sounding but incorrect answers, known as hallucinations, and reflect biases in its training data. Concerns include academic dishonesty, misinformation generation, malicious code creation, and the ethics of using copyrighted content in training.
Launch and Viral Growth
ChatGPT was publicly launched on November 30, 2022, by OpenAI, a research organization. The release followed years of development in Large language model technology, building on the Transformer (architecture) architecture. Within five days, it had over one million users, and by early January 2023, it reached 100 million monthly active users, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history. The viral spread was driven by social media, where users shared impressive outputs, from writing poems to debugging code. This rapid adoption marked a turning point in public awareness of Generative AI, prompting competitors like Google DeepMind and Anthropic to accelerate their own chatbot efforts.
Core Technology and Architecture
ChatGPT is based on Generative AI models, specifically the GPT series, which use the Transformer (architecture) architecture. The underlying Neural network is trained on vast amounts of text data using Machine learning techniques, including Deep learning and reinforcement-learning-from-human-feedback (RLHF). The model processes prompts through layers of Multi-Head Attention and Positional Encoding, enabling it to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses. The initial version, GPT-3.5, was fine-tuned from a predecessor model, and subsequent iterations, such as GPT-4, improved reasoning and factual accuracy. The system also incorporates Temperature Scaling and Top-P (Nucleus) Sampling to control response randomness and diversity.
Features and Capabilities
ChatGPT supports a wide range of tasks, including writing and debugging computer programs, composing music, scripts, stories, and essays, answering questions, and generating business concepts. It can translate and summarize text, and simulate interactive environments like a Linux terminal or text-based games. Users interact through conversations with text, audio, and image inputs, and an optional "Memory" feature allows the chatbot to recall specific information or past conversations. GPT-based moderation classifiers reduce harmful outputs.
In March 2023, OpenAI added plugin support, including web browsing and code interpretation, plus external plugins from developers like Expedia, OpenTable, and Zapier. From October to December 2024, ChatGPT Search was deployed, allowing web searches for more accurate and up-to-date responses, increasing competition with major search engines. In December 2024, a feature enabled users to call ChatGPT by telephone for up to 15 minutes per month for free. In October 2025, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas, a browser integrating the assistant directly into web navigation, with an "agentic mode" that can take online actions for the user.
Paid Tiers and Mobile Apps
ChatGPT was initially free and remains free with limited capacity. In February 2023, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Plus at US$20 per month, offering priority access and faster responses. A Pro tier at $200 per month launched in December 2024, coinciding with the release of the o1 model. In August 2025, ChatGPT Go was offered in India for ₹399 per month with higher limits than the free version.
Mobile apps for iOS and Android were released between May and July 2023, and a Windows app launched on the Microsoft Store on October 15, 2024. These apps extended access, allowing users to interact via voice and image inputs.
Language Support and Translation
OpenAI met Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson in 2022, and in 2023, worked with 40 Icelandic volunteers to fine-tune ChatGPT's Icelandic conversation skills as part of Iceland's language preservation efforts. In 2023, ChatGPT (based on GPT-4) outperformed Bing, Bard, and DeepL Translator in Japanese-to-English translation. In December 2023, the Albanian government used ChatGPT for rapid translation of European Union documents and analysis of required changes for EU accession. Studies have shown ChatGPT can outperform Google Translate in some mainstream translation tasks, though as of 2024, no machine translation service matches human expert performance.
GPTs, Plugins, and Deep Research
In November 2023, OpenAI released GPT Builder, allowing users to customize ChatGPT's behavior for specific use cases, creating custom GPTs. In January 2024, the GPT Store launched, featuring over 3 million GPTs created by users. In September 2025, support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) was added, improving third-party access to ChatGPT tools and servers. In July 2026, ChatGPT apps were renamed to plugins.
In February 2025, OpenAI released Deep Research, a feature that generates reports based on extensive web searches, initially using the o3 reasoning model and taking 3 to 30 minutes per report.
Image Generation and Agents
In October 2023, DALL-E 3 was integrated into ChatGPT, using conversations to write prompts for image generation. In March 2025, ChatGPT updated to use GPT Image instead of DALL-E, significantly improving text rendering in images, though less so for non-Latin alphabets. Images are generated with C2PA metadata to verify AI origin, and safeguards prevent harmful content.
In 2025, OpenAI added agentic features. In January, Operator was released, capable of autonomously performing browser-based tasks like filling forms, placing orders, and scheduling appointments. These developments positioned ChatGPT as a tool for automating complex workflows.
Societal Impact and Controversies
ChatGPT's rapid adoption sparked debates about creativity, knowledge work, and the future of employment. Proponents highlight its potential to augment human capabilities, while critics warn of job displacement and over-reliance on AI. The chatbot has been used for academic dishonesty, leading schools to implement policies. It can generate misinformation and malicious code, raising security concerns. The ethics of training on copyrighted data have drawn legal challenges and public scrutiny. Despite these issues, ChatGPT remains a central product in the Artificial intelligence landscape, influencing industry trends and investment.