OpenAI Announces They Will Let Anyone Create their Own ChatGPT Version

One year ago, OpenAI set a milestone in the world of artificial intelligence with the release of ChatGPT, a chatbot capable of seemingly doing anything. Now, they're taking customization to the next level with the introduction of a platform that allows users to create custom versions of ChatGPT tailored to specific use cases, all without the need for coding.

OpenAI is set to launch this platform for custom AI agents, aptly named GPTs, in the upcoming weeks. While the finer details about how the GPT Store will function remain under wraps, one enticing promise is that creators will be compensated based on the usage of their custom GPTs. These customized AI agents will be accessible to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and OpenAI enterprise customers, who can even create internal-only GPTs to serve their employees.

The big announcement was made at DevDay, OpenAI’s inaugural developer conference held in San Francisco. During the event, the company made several exciting revelations, including the introduction of a more potent and cost-effective GPT-4, reduced pricing for developers using OpenAI's models in their applications, and the staggering news that ChatGPT now boasts 100 million weekly users.

Addressing the Demand for Customization

OpenAI shared that since the launch of ChatGPT, users have been eager to find ways to personalize the chatbot to suit their specific needs. The company previously introduced Custom Instructions in July, allowing users to set preferences. However, the demand for more control kept growing. Many power users meticulously curated lists of prompts and instructions, manually feeding them into ChatGPT. The new GPTs aim to simplify this process by handling all the customization seamlessly.

In a recent demonstration, OpenAI showcased the potential of their GPT platform. A bot named the "Creative Writing Coach" critiqued an uploaded PDF of a writing sample, showcasing the flexibility and adaptability of these AI agents. In another instance, a GPT called "Event Navigator" was swiftly created to assist attendees in navigating DevDay. The platform even auto-generated a profile picture using DALL-E and ingested a PDF attachment to provide information about the event schedule.

The interface provided by OpenAI allows users to guide how they want a GPT to interact with people before deployment. This newfound customization power extends to features such as web browsing, DALL-E integration, and OpenAI’s Code Interpreter tool. There's also a "Knowledge" section where users can upload custom data, like event schedules for DevDay. OpenAI goes a step further by introducing "Actions," which enable GPTs to connect to external services for data access, starting with Canva and Zapier.

A Unique Position in the AI Bot Landscape

OpenAI's move into the world of custom GPTs puts them in competition with other AI bot platforms like Character.AI and Meta. However, OpenAI positions its platform as being more utility-focused rather than emphasizing bots that replicate human behavior. Although OpenAI doesn't discourage the creation of GPTs with human-like personas, their primary focus remains utility and practicality.

Privacy and Moderation

To address privacy concerns, the creators of GPTs will not have access to the conversations users have with their AI agents. Additionally, the level of usage data they will receive access to remains uncertain. OpenAI is committed to monitoring the activity to prevent issues like fraud, hate speech, and "adult themes." They will also introduce stringent identity verification requirements when the GPT Store is launched, with GPTs initially accessible via shareable web links.

Towards the Future

OpenAI's GPT platform represents a significant step toward the company's ultimate goal: the creation of an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), often referred to as an AI superintelligence. Restricting access to paid subscribers is expected to boost OpenAI's already surging revenue, potentially seeking a valuation from investors of up to a staggering $90 billion.