OpenAI Rolls Out 70 ChatGPT Plugins as Chatbot Race Heats Up

May 15, 2023

OpenAI is not taking the battle for AI dominance lightly. Just weeks after releasing its code interpreter plugin for trial, it has announced there will be 70 third-party plugins and web browsing to ChatGPT Plus.

Previously available to a select few during the alpha phase, the over 70 third party plugins are now available to ChatGPT Plus users as the company expands the capabilities of this AI tool.

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This update presents an exciting opportunity for users to delegate various tasks to ChatGPT, further enhancing its usefulness.

In a tweet OpenAI said, “We’re rolling out web browsing and Plugins to all ChatGPT Plus users over the next week! Moving from alpha to beta, they allow ChatGPT to access the internet and to use 70+ third-party plugins.”

This is probably the firm’s best move to assert dominance, as both Microsoft and Google have their AI chatbots that have access to internet browsing.

Unfortunately for ChatGPT users, unlike Bard and Bing which are free, only subscribing users will have access to these plugins and internet browsing.

Versatile tool

Upon subscribing to ChatGPT Plus, users can gain access to the plugins, located under the “Beta Features” section in the user settings. The monthly subscription, priced at $20, enables users to access the improved ChatGPT-4 model, which although not flawless according to Gizmochina, represents a significant upgrade over ChatGPT-3.

The inclusion of the over 70 third-party plugins offers a wide range of functionalities, including parsing website content, data visualization and analysis, as well as language learning assistance.

With ability to use the internet and utilize the plugins, ChatGPT represents a highly versatile tool.

However, while users can install as many plugins as they desire, they can only use three at a time. The plugins cater to various industries such as shopping, real estate, travel, stocks and food.

Mixed reactions as competition heats up

Responding to OpenAI’ s announcement, some users are excited about the internet browsing and plugins, as evidenced by the following tweet.

Yes! Very excited to try them finally, thank you.

As for the Code Interpreter, is there an ETA for that to be released to all Plus users?

— Alvaro Cintas (@dr_cintas) May 12, 2023

While many responded with simple excitement, others weren’t too happy that they still haven’t got access to some of the plugins – even though they are ChatGPT Plus subscribers. One ChatGPT Plus subscriber posted a screenshot of their ChatGPT Plus screen with no plugins to select from and a caption “Am I a joke to you?”

Another responded to that tweet with “Same? Been waiting.”

Some users seem especially eager to get access to the code interpreter plugin. Others have praised Google’s Bard for being free as compared to ChatGPT-4. And several mentioned that Bard still has a long way to catch up with ChatGPT, despite having access to internet.

“Bard also completely makes stuff up, it told me today after I asked it to name its source, that the thing it said actually did not happen,” said Coleman.

Based on their experiences, some users have said Bard often cannot complete certain tasks, which might point to restrictions imposed by Google, much like with Microsoft’s Bing.