It’s a big week for generative AI, as OpenAI has unveiled the next big update to ChatGPT, GPT-4. The new AI software supports multimodal input, meaning the chatbot can do more than just read text. It can now understand images, which will open the door to additional interesting uses for the bot. However, ChatGPT with GPT-4 costs money at $20 per month with ChatGPT Plus. You can still use the old ChatGPT AI bot for free, but you won’t get the new GPT-4 features.
An alternative is Microsoft’s implementation of GPT-4, which has been powering Bing for several weeks. It has all new GPT-4 features and it is completely free to use.
Microsoft has its own big AI event scheduled for Thursday. But the company already confirmed the arrival of ChatGPT’s GPT-4 support at an event in Germany last week.
At the time, we weren’t sure when OpenAI might reveal an update to ChatGPT. Or could GPT-4 be initially only available from Microsoft products? After Wednesday’s announcements, we know where they stand. OpenAI is not ready to make GPT-4 technology available for free to all ChatGPT users.
But Microsoft is a big investor in OpenAI, which would explain why the company is willing to offer the update for free to Bing users who can access ChatGPT inside the search engine.
Microsoft confirmed in a short blog post that Bing Preview has been using GPT-4 for the past five weeks;
We’re happy to confirm that the new Bing works with GPT-4, which we’ve adapted for search. If you’ve used the new Bing preview anytime in the past five weeks, you’ve already experienced an early version of this powerful model. As OpenAI makes updates to GPT-4 and beyond, Bing takes advantage of those improvements. With our own updates based on community feedback, you can be sure you have the most comprehensive features available.
While Bing’s ChatGPT remains free to access, it’s worth noting something Microsoft said in the announcement above. Bing works with GPT-4, but ChatGPT support only applies to search. You may still need an OpenAI ChatGPT Plus account to experience the multimodal powers of the new AI update.
As for Microsoft’s new Bing browser, you’ll need to join a waiting list to get in, and it all starts with this link.
However, Microsoft still has an event scheduled for March 16 that will showcase additional AI products. The company may announce multimodal CharGPT GPT-4 support on Microsoft Bing.