We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about ChatGPT, and it’s completely free. By reading this article, you’ll discover all the tips and tricks related to ChatGPT, its wide range of applications, and its full set of features. We wish you enjoyable reading.
A Brief Introduction to ChatGPT
ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022. The company behind the development of ChatGPT is OpenAI, an American-based artificial intelligence research and development company. The company is known for creating secure and useful AI products with the motto. The current CEO of OpenAI is Sam Altman. OpenAI is not currently a publicly traded company.
You can think of ChatGPT as an AI that can engage in interactive conversations with you and has a broad knowledge base thanks to being trained on a vast dataset. While there is a paid version of ChatGPT, you can currently use it completely for free.
How is it used?
ChatGPT has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use. You can access ChatGPT both through your web browser and a mobile app.
To access it through a web browser or desktop devices, you need to go to the following address: https://chat.openai.com/. When you visit this address, you will be greeted with a screen like the one below.
Here, you will find two buttons: “Log in” and “Sign Up.” You should use the “Sign Up” button to create a new account and the “Login” button to log in to your existing account.
ChatGPT has official mobile applications available for both iOS and Android. To access it from your mobile device, you first need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Once you have downloaded the app and open it, you will be greeted with a screen like the one below.
Here, you will find buttons to either log in to your existing account or create a new account if you don’t have one.
You need to create an account to start using
To use ChatGPT, you need to have an account. To create an account, you will need a valid email address that you can verify or an account that can be verified, such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Apple ID. You will also need to verify your phone number.
Learn more: Why does ChatGPT ask for phone number?
You cannot create an account without verifying your phone number and email address. This rule has been put in place by OpenAI to make the platform more secure and stable.
You can verify a maximum of two different accounts with a single phone number. This also helps maintain security and prevent misuse of the platform.
If you have an account, you can now log in
After completing the account creation process, all you need to do is enter your email address using the Login button on the screen, or you can connect to your Google, Microsoft, or Apple ID account to provide confirmation.
After this step, you can enter your password to complete the login process. The login process is the same for both the mobile app and the browser version.
Learn more: How to sign in to ChatGPT using Gmail, Hotmail or Apple ID accounts?
If you have forgotten your password or want to change it, you can do so by selecting the “Forgot Password” option on the screen where you enter your password.
After clicking this button, OpenAI will send a notification email to the email address you have confirmed. You can follow the instructions in this email to complete the password reset process.
However, it is not possible to change your email address like changing your password. Once you have created an account, OpenAI does not allow you to change the email address associated with your account. However, if you wish to use the same account with a different email address, you can add new email addresses to the same account.
Finally, once you have logged in, you don’t need to log in again each time unless you log out. You will stay logged in on the same device for 30 days as long as you don’t log out of your account.
What about after logging in?
After logging into your account, you will encounter different screens on the mobile app and the browser version. Below, we have explained these screens, the sections you should be aware of, and the buttons in each screen, in order.
Browser / Desktop Devices
On the browser, you can think of the screen as being divided into three parts:
- Bottom Left Section (Account Settings):
- In the bottom-left corner, you will find a section where you can manage your account settings.
- From here, you can access your account settings, log out of your account, and access various features.
- Left Window (Chat History):
- In the this part of the left window, you can access your chat history. This is where your conversations with ChatGPT are saved, allowing you to revisit past conversations.
- At the top of this section, you can open a new chat window and make ChatGPT fullscreen.
- Main Chat Area:
- In this area, you can engage in conversations with ChatGPT.
- At the bottom of this section, there is a large text box where you can type your messages.
- On the far right of the text box, you will find the send button.
- Above this, you will see your ongoing conversations with ChatGPT.
Main Screen
Let’s examine every element part by part
- This button allows you to start a new conversation and chat window with ChatGPT.
- This button is used to make the chat window go full screen by closing the left panel.
- Your login email address is displayed here. Clicking this button allows you to access settings and log out of your account.
- This is where you enter your message.
- You send your message using this button, or you can also use the Enter key.
- With this button, you can access OpenAI’s support and frequently asked questions page. You can also find the section where you can access ChatGPT keyboard shortcuts.
- Here, you can choose the model to use while chatting with ChatGPT. Free users currently have access to the GPT-3.5 model only. The GPT-4 model is the most advanced and up-to-date, but it’s available exclusively to ChatGPT Plus members.
Mobile App
The mobile screen is much simpler. You’ll find a three-dot icon in the top right corner, which gives you access to settings and features.
At the top of the screen, there’s a section where you can choose the model. And at the bottom, there’s a text box where you can send your message.
Let’s break down these elements one by one.
- This is the section where you can send your message. After typing your message, you can send it by tapping the upward arrow icon on the right.
- This buttons allows you to choose the model you want to use. Currently, there are two model options: GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.
- You can access the Settings, open a New Window, view your Chat History, and access your Account Settings by using or tapping this button.
How to log out?
Here are instructions for logging out of your account on both desktop and mobile devices:
On Desktop:
- Click on your account name in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- In the opened window, simply click on the “Logout” button.
On Mobile:
- Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Then, click on the “Settings” button in the opened window.
- At the bottom of the new window, you’ll find the “Sign Out” button. You can log out of your account by tapping this button.
How to delete my account?
If you wish to permanently delete your ChatGPT account, you can follow these steps on a desktop device:
- After logging into your account, click on your account name in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- In the opened window, click on the “Settings” button.
- A pop-up window will appear. In this pop-up window, click on the “Data Control” option in the left menu.
- To permanently delete your account, use the “Delete” button located to the right of the “Account” text in the opened window.
To delete your account through the mobile app, you should follow similar steps. Here’s how:
- After logging into your account, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
- In the opened window, tap the “Settings” button.
- In the settings, tap the “Data Controls” button.
- At the bottom of this screen, you’ll find the “Delete Account” button. Tap this button to delete your account.
Be aware that deleting your account through these steps will permanently remove your ChatGPT account and all associated data.
After deleting your account, it’s important to remember that you won’t be able to create a new account with the same email address, and you also won’t be able to reuse the phone number associated with the deleted account. OpenAI’s security policies prohibit this practice for safety and security reasons.
How to start using ChatGPT?
Starting to use ChatGPT is quite straightforward. All you need to do is log into your account, then type what you want to say in the text box on the screen and send it. ChatGPT will respond to your message in a short amount of time.
For example, I asked ChatGPT “how are you”, and it quickly responded with an answer.
After receiving a response from ChatGPT, you have various actions you can take.
- You can continue the conversation by sending a new message based on ChatGPT’s response.
- You can also copy ChatGPT’s response by using Ctrl+C or by clicking the copy button located to the right of the response.
- You can provide feedback on whether ChatGPT’s response was helpful by using the thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons located to the right of the message.
- You can click the “Regenerate” button located below the response to prompt ChatGPT to provide a new answer to the question you asked. This can be handy in situations where you are not satisfied with the initial response or if there were connectivity issues preventing you from receiving a response.
Of course, you can perform all these actions on the mobile app as well. To do so, simply press and hold ChatGPT’s response, and then use the buttons in the opened window to take the desired actions.
How to change the theme of ChatGPT?
You can also use ChatGPT in Dark Mode if you prefer.
To use ChatGPT in Dark Mode on desktop devices, follow these steps:
- Click on your account name in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Click on the “Settings” button in the opened window.
- In the Settings window, under the “General” section, you’ll find the “Theme” option.
- To use Dark Mode, click the dropdown menu to the right of the “Theme” option and select “Dark.”
To enable Dark Mode in the mobile app, follow these steps:
- Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click on the “Settings” button in the opened window.
- In the Settings window, select your desired theme from the “Color Scheme” menu.
By following these steps, you can use ChatGPT in Dark Mode on your mobile device.
Your chats are being saved
Your conversations with ChatGPT are automatically saved. When you click the “New Chat” button and open a new chat window, the previous chat window is saved. You can access this window later and continue the conversation if you wish.
On desktop devices, you can view your saved conversation history on the left side of the screen.
On mobile devices, you can view your conversation history by tapping the three-dot icon in the top right corner and selecting the “History” option that appears.
All conversations you have with the same account are synchronized across different platforms. This means that if you have chats on your desktop device, you can view them on the mobile app when logged into the same account, and vice versa.
Your conversations are also being checked for compliance with OpenAI’s usage policy.
Thanks to ChatGPT’s automatic chat-saving feature, you can access your previous conversations at any time, regardless of how old they are. You can view your conversation history and continue from where you left off in these saved chats.
You can rename the name of the saved conversations
When your previous chat sessions are saved, they are automatically assigned a name for identification, and you can view them with these names. However, if you want to rename these saved chat windows, here’s how to do it:
On Desktop:
- Hover over the chat window you want to rename.
- Click the pencil icon that appears. This will allow you to edit the name.
On Mobile:
- While in the chat window you want to rename, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
- In the opened window, select the “Rename” button.
By following these steps, you can customize the names of your saved chat windows for easier identification.
You can delete your saved conversation
To delete your saved conversations is possible if you wish to remove them. You can do this for individual chats or delete all saved chats at once. Here’s how to do it:
On Desktop (for individual chat deletion):
- Hover over the chat you want to delete.
- Click the trash can icon that appears.
On Mobile (for individual chat deletion):
- While in the chat you want to delete, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
- In the opened window, select the “Delete” button.
To clear all your saved chats, you should and follow these steps:
On Desktop:
- Go to the settings menu
- Click the “Clear All Chats” button to delete all saved chats.
On Mobile:
- Go to “Settings”
- Navigate to “Data Control”
- Tap on “Clear Chat History” to delete all saved chats.
OpenAI uses your conversation history as training data
It’s important to be aware that OpenAI’s privacy policy states that the saved conversations are used as data for the purpose of training ChatGPT.
In other words, your past conversations, unless you take additional actions, are used as data by ChatGPT to improve itself and for model training.
Therefore, it’s recommended never to share confidential information with ChatGPT, as OpenAI utilizes this data for training purposes. For more information, you can visit OpenAI’s Data Controls FAQ page.
If you wish to prevent your chat windows from being automatically saved and used as data by OpenAI, you can do so by disabling the “Chat history & training” toggle in the Data Control section within the Settings menu.
When you turn off this toggle, your chat history will not be automatically saved, and you won’t have access to this chat history. By doing this, OpenAI commits to not using your chat history for training purposes since it won’t be saved as data.
ChatGPT remembers what is said in the same conversation window
ChatGPT remembers conversations within the same chat window. This feature allows it to recall previous statements and instructions, providing relevant responses without the need for repeated reminders.
With ChatGPT’s contextual memory, you can benefit from this recall feature without having to reiterate things you’ve mentioned before.
Also read: How to refer to earlier messages in ChatGPT?
For instance, let’s say at the beginning of the conversation, you asked ChatGPT to respond in a manner suitable for explaining to a primary school student. Later, if you open a new chat window months later and access the saved conversations, ChatGPT will continue to respond in a way appropriate for explaining to a primary school student without the need for you to remind it of that request.
What is this thing called a prompt?
With the emergence of ChatGPT and similar AI models, the term “prompt” has become increasingly common. So, what exactly is a prompt?
Simply put, a prompt is a request or instruction that someone uses to get data or commands from artificial intelligence or a computer program.
The reason prompts have become so popular can be explained as follows: Generative AI’s like ChatGPT, which produce content such as text, images, and audio, cater to your needs as effectively as they can understand you.
Therefore, the better you express yourself, the more accurately artificial intelligence will respond to your requests.
Learn more: How to get better results from ChatGPT? ChatGPT Best Practices
The key to expressing yourself effectively lies in the requests you send to this AI, namely prompts. The higher the quality of your prompts, and the more they align with your needs, the better the response you receive from the AI will be, addressing your problem in a more detailed and effective manner.
Indeed, while ChatGPT is an advanced language model, it cannot know or understand topics you haven’t mentioned. It also can’t grasp the nuances of a problem you haven’t provided details about.
Therefore, when expressing yourself and presenting complex problems to it, using a high-quality prompt that is both simple and detailed will make your task easier and lead to more effective interactions.
Take advantage of voice typing feature
When expressing a problem in detail, using a keyboard can be time-consuming and challenging. However, the ChatGPT mobile app features a capability that allows Voice Typing using OpenAI’s Whisper AI model.
With this feature, instead of typing your message with a keyboard, you can speak and express your concerns to ChatGPT by using your microphone. This makes it easier to communicate your thoughts and create prompts more efficiently.
Learn more: How to use WhisperAI in ChatGPT mobile?
It’s a great feature because it simplifies the process of creating high-quality prompts. Speaking to ChatGPT allows you to express your problem much more efficiently within shorter time frames.
ChatGPT that understands you better will provide you with more accurate responses tailored to your needs.
You may also take advantage of Chrome Extensions
The Voice Typing feature integrated with Whisper AI is currently available exclusively in OpenAI’s ChatGPT mobile app. It’s not a default feature on desktop devices at the moment. However, to use this feature on desktop, you can take advantage of various Chrome extensions.
Additionally, Chrome extensions are not limited to just Voice Typing; there are numerous ChatGPT Chrome extensions available for various purposes. You can find each of them on the Chrome Web Store.
Also read: A ChatGPT Chrome Extension to integrate ChatGPT responses with Google
However, while using these Chrome extensions, we highly recommend caution and suggest downloading only trusted ones.
What about Custom Instructions feature?
Speaking of prompts, let’s also discuss the ChatGPT Custom Instructions feature. ChatGPT Custom Instructions allow users to get better results and receive more personalized responses.
Through ChatGPT Custom Instructions, you introduce yourself to ChatGPT and explain how you want it to respond. Based on the instructions you provide, ChatGPT will give you responses that align with these instructions without the need for you to send them repeatedly.
Learn more: How to use ChatGPT Custom Instructions feature?
For instance, let’s say you want ChatGPT to provide responses in a different language like German or Japanese, as a helpful tool in your language learning journey.
Instead of requesting foreign language responses from ChatGPT every time you interact, you can use the Custom Instructions feature.
Here, you can tell ChatGPT once that you want it to provide responses in a foreign language, and in the introduction section, you can mention that you’re learning a foreign language and that you expect responses in that language rather than English.
This allows you to give instructions once, and ChatGPT will align with these instructions every time it responds. That’s the ChatGPT Custom Instructions feature.
What can I use ChatGPT for?
ChatGPT can be used as a versatile assistant in almost any field due to its ability to engage in interactive dialogue and a vast knowledge base. Here are some ways you can utilize ChatGPT:
Database Queries
ChatGPT can help you prepare SQL queries for your desired databases and even identify errors in your existing queries to improve them.
Also read: How I have been successfully using ChatGPT to write SQL queries?
Coding Assistance
It can write code for you or enhance your existing code, fixing errors and supporting various programming languages from the most popular to the less common.
Also read: How to create flappy bird game with ChatGPT?
Also read: How to create a personal website with ChatGPT?
Text Summarization
ChatGPT can summarize text or topics you send to it.
You can ask for a summary of a lengthy text to have the main points and key information extracted from books and articles on your behalf.
Meal Planning
You can use ChatGPT for meal planning.
When requesting a nutrition program, you can expect it to take into account your goals for weight gain or loss, your daily protein requirements, and the ingredients that are accessible to you.
If you provide detailed information, it will help generate more relevant meal planning results tailored to you.
Translation and Language Learning
It can provide translations and serve as a language learning tool, not limited to just English but multiple languages.
ChatGPT can write poems in foreign languages. You can also request detailed explanations of the meanings of unfamiliar words, along with how they can be used in sentences.
Roleplaying
ChatGPT can take on different characters or roles as per your request, making role play or simulations possible.
Also read: How to use ChatGPT to prepare for interviews
ChatGPT can also act as a fitness coach or therapist, offering support and guidance through interactive conversations.
Also read: How to use ChatGPT as your therapist?
Teaching
You can use ChatGPT as a teacher to explain various subjects, from quantum physics and trigonometry to chemistry and biology, tailored to your level of understanding.
Brainstorming
You can use ChatGPT to brainstorm on any topic you desire. Whether you want to design a logo or need ideas related to the logo you’re working on, ChatGPT can provide creative input and suggestions.
Also read: How to create logo for free with AI?
Remember, it doesn’t always provide accurate answers
There’s a very important point to be addressed here. It’s this: ChatGPT’s responses are never 100% reliable. The responses from ChatGPT can be incorrect, incomplete, or flawed.
Therefore, you can’t trust ChatGPT’s responses completely. There’s no guarantee that they are accurate.
One of the limitations of ChatGPT, which uses GPT models, is that it can sometimes provide hallucinatory responses.
Hallucinatory responses are when these models, after being trained on a large dataset, claim or say things as if they were real, even when they don’t exist in reality. That’s why ChatGPT’s responses are not always accurate and can be incorrect.
Furthermore, ChatGPT’s knowledge is limited up to September 2021. ChatGPT is not aware of current events. When you ask it about current events, it will mention that its knowledge is up to 2021.
This is another limitation of ChatGPT. Its lack of knowledge about current topics is indeed a drawback.
ChatGPT also has a character limit. When you exceed this limit, it may not fully understand your input or cannot send responses that exceed this character limit in a single message.
Learn more: Does ChatGPT have a character limit?
What about ChatGPT Plus?
So far, everything we’ve discussed applies to ChatGPT’s free version. After ChatGPT gained popularity, the OpenAI company announced the ChatGPT Plus model on February 1, 2023, through a blog post. ChatGPT Plus model is a paid subscription service that you can purchase for $20 per month, offering exclusive benefits.
As a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, you can enjoy some exclusive benefits. One of the primary advantages is access to the GPT-4 model. While standard ChatGPT users can only use the GPT-3.5 model, Plus subscribers have the privilege of using the GPT-4 model as well.
Also read: GPT-4 vs GPT-3.5 comparison
ChatGPT Plus members also have the ability to use ChatGPT plugins feature and enjoy privileged access to ChatGPT during times of high demand.
ChatGPT Enterprise was recently announced
On August 28, 2023, OpenAI announced the ChatGPT Enterprise model. ChatGPT Enterprise is a modified version of ChatGPT specifically designed for enterprises.
Previously, we mentioned that the conversations we have with ChatGPT are used as a dataset for training by OpenAI. Due to this, some companies had banned the use of ChatGPT by their employees out of concerns related to the potential leakage of their proprietary information or data breaches.
OpenAI introduced the ChatGPT Enterprise model to address such issues and make ChatGPT usable by enterprises while enhancing productivity and security.
Also read: ChatGPT Enterprise, What is it and why it is important?
With the ChatGPT Enterprise model, conversations will not be used for training purposes, unlimited access to the GPT-4 model will be provided, and it will include features like an admin panel to facilitate internal use within companies.
What is GPT-4 model?
The GPT-4 model, announced by OpenAI on March 14, 2023, is the most up-to-date and advanced language model.
Compared to its predecessors, the GPT-4 model has been trained on a significantly larger dataset, possesses enhanced reasoning abilities, and has a higher character limit.
Also read: How to use GPT-4 model in ChatGPT?
Additionally, unlike other GPT models that function solely as language models, the GPT-4 model features a multimodal capability. This means it can accept input not only in the form of text but also as images.
Also read: GPT-4 Image Input, How to use it?
What about ChatGPT Plugins?
ChatGPT Plugins are a feature that allows ChatGPT to go beyond its own knowledge and access external applications, blending information from these sources with its own knowledge. It was announced on March 23, 2023.
If you think of ChatGPT as your phone, you can consider plugins as the apps on your phone. With ChatGPT plugins, the model can acquire information in a broader range of areas, both in current topics and in areas where it lacks expertise.
For example, while ChatGPT cannot normally access the internet, you can enable it to do so through plugins. Or, if ChatGPT is not knowledgeable about current events, you can use plugins to provide it with information about current events.
All of this becomes possible through ChatGPT’s access to third-party applications and the utilization of their features.
Is there a file upload feature?
Normally, ChatGPT doesn’t have a file upload feature. You could only send text as input to ChatGPT. However, thanks to the Code Interpreter feature, you can now upload files to ChatGPT as well.
ChatGPT Code Interpreter model
The ChatGPT Code Interpreter model is essentially a sandboxed Python programming environment embedded within ChatGPT. You can execute Python code within a broad range here. Additionally, you can upload files to the Code Interpreter model.
Learn More: How to enable and use ChatGPT Code Interpreter?
Here, you can request ChatGPT to interpret and summarize the files you upload.
For instance, if you have a large dataset on hand, you can upload it to ChatGPT through the Code Interpreter model and ask it to analyze, summarize, and even perform various operations on the data using Python code to make it more meaningful.
It utilizes the GPT-4 model and is exclusive to ChatGPT Plus members.
Can ChatGPT provide image output?
No, ChatGPT cannot draw pictures in the way we traditionally think of drawing. Its primary capability is to provide text-based responses since it was trained and developed as a language model.
To create images, you would need to use different artificial intelligence tools designed for that purpose, such as DALL·E or Midjourney.
However, there are still a few ways to have ChatGPT create images. One of them is to have it generate images in ASCII and SVG formats.
Also read: Can ChatGPT generate images?
Additionally, you can use ChatGPT plugins to have it create images. For example, you can use the popular graphic design tool Canva plugin to design graphics like logos and banners through ChatGPT.
Conclusion
ChatGPT made a significant impact last year, reaching many people worldwide and raising awareness about artificial intelligence. Its abilities have consistently amazed and continue to amaze people, from programmers to physics professors, since its initial release.
Of course, ChatGPT has its shortcomings and flaws. However, we are currently undergoing a transformation that will affect all of our lives. Artificial intelligence products are rapidly entering and evolving in our lives. Moreover, this trend seems likely to continue in the coming years.
In this article, we have prepared a comprehensive guide that anyone, even if they know nothing about ChatGPT, can use to learn about its usage. Our hope is that you can fully benefit from using ChatGPT and integrate artificial intelligence into your life to simplify tasks. Of course, there will be many discussions in the future, especially regarding ethics and originality. However, our main goal is to introduce ChatGPT to you better.
I would like to express our gratitude to the editors who contributed to the preparation of this article, dedicating weeks to creating this guide. We also wish you healthy and happy days.