- OpenAI introduces plugin support for ChatGPT.
- The support allows the chatbot to expand its capabilities.
- One of these capabilities is access to interact with web data like Bing Chat.
OpenAI brings plugin support for its ChatGPT natural language model that further expands the chatbot capabilities, including access to interact with data from the internet.
One of the biggest differentiators between Bing Chat and ChatGPT is that Bing Chat can combine the power of ChatGPT and the Bing search engine to provide answers to virtually any topic, including current events. On the other hand, ChatGPT has been limited to knowledge from predefined datasets that are not up-to-date. However, this is now changing with plugins. Adding plugins allows the chatbot to interact with data from the web and open the system to other services.
In the announcement, OpenAI showed off a demo, where a user installed several plugins and asked ChatGPT to find a recipe, and then, from the same interface, the user was able to leverage the “Instacart” plugin (in this case) to create a list of ingredients to complete the order online.
OpenAI currently has limited plugins, including Expedia, FscalNote, Instacart, Kayak, Klama Shopping, Milo Family AI, OpenTable, Shop, Speak, Wolfram, and Zapier. However, the list will continue to grow as more services show interest in ChatGPT.
In addition to these third-party plugins, OpenAI is offering a couple of plugins, including one to understand code and another known as “Browsing,” which opens the chatbot to access information from the web, similar to the capability offered by Bing Chat. Furthermore, it can also connect to different APIs to perform actions on the user’s behalf which could make ChatGPT even more capable.
Although this new feature can expand the AI system capabilities, there’s still concern about security since allowing the chatbot to act on the user’s behalf can have its consensuses. However, OpenAI says that considering this, and has implemented different safeguards.
The support for plugins is available immediately, but OpenAI is currently testing out the integration with only a limited number of users. If you want early access, you will have to join the waitlist.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].