OpenAI has introduced a plugin for ChatGPT that opens up the ability to access web content.

OpenAI has announced that it is gradually rolling out plugins for ChatGPT that will expand functionality to allow it to do new things like web browsing.

What are ChatGPT Plugins?

OpenAI describes its plugins as tools that ChatGPT can use.

These new plugins are still being tested and may not necessarily work perfectly out of the box.

ChatGPT must be trained to use it.

The most interesting plugin is the one that enables web browsing, with many users reporting little results.

But to be fair, these plugins are currently only released to a small number of users and developers as part of the alpha testing program.

In order to use the plugin, the user does not need to do anything to start using the plugin.

ChatGPT will call the plugin if it needs to complete a task.

However, OpenAI gives users the option to activate the plugin if they feel the need for it.

OpenAI explains how the plugins work:

“The purpose of the form is to assist the user.

ChatGPT will intelligently decide between calling the plugin and handling the user’s query using its internal knowledge.

For example, a model may decide that it is necessary to call a browser plug-in to ask a question about current events, but it answers a very simple mathematical or scientific question without using the plug-in. It can feel easy.

The user can always push the form to use the plugin by explicitly asking the form to use the plugin, such as “I use Expedia to plan my trip to New York City.”

ChatGPT 3.5 with browsing – alpha

A new plugin has been launched that allows chatgpt to browse the internet for users.

The ability to complete a GPT chat task with information from the Internet is a feature that users have been longing for since the current model only contains data until 2021.

This new plugin gives access to more up-to-date information and will make it possible to accomplish more tasks.

New plugins are called alpha releases.

Alpha releases of software are the first versions of the software and are generally believed to contain problems (called bugs), which testers must find.

The beta version of the program is a version ready for extensive testing by volunteers.

Software companies often release alpha and beta versions with the disclaimer that they are released for testing purposes and not for use in critical business settings.

Users share their experiences with the Chat GPT plugin.

A recent Reddit thread emphasized the browsing plugin’s alpha status.

One user reported access to the Code Interpreter plugin and confirmed there was a Slack channel to share feedback about the plugin.

Redditor wrote:

This is an option available with Code Interpreter and plug-ins when you register to access the plug-ins.

I have access to a code compiler and have been invited to the private Beta Slack group to provide feedback.

You may also be invited to a Slack group to provide OpenAI feedback.

Enjoy this feature.”

A second user who had access to the fresh ChatGPT browsing extension shared:

“Have you noticed that it’s unresponsive 75% of the time? I think it has to do with the types of queries, for example, when I ask it to browse to a specific URL, it’s pretty hit or miss.”

Another user commented on how the browsing plugin gets into a browsing loop that never ends.

User wrote:

Limit the amount of time it can spend browsing. If I add ‘Don’t spend more than ten minutes browsing and ask me if I need more time’ to my prompt, this bar will respond quickly.

If I don’t add it to my prompt, sometimes it will just say “browsing” forever.

A Redditor has discovered the latest limits on accessible sites. This can be a safeguard against accessing untrusted sites.

He said he shares:

Asking him to search a certain website, such as Reddit, won’t be an issue.

Ask him to search Yandex and you’ll get a “sorry, blah blah” language model that only attempts to provide accurate information from reliable sources.

Do you want me to Google it?”

Third party Plugins

In addition to plug-ins developed by OpenAI, developers can join the waitlist and use existing documentation to create plug-ins when invited.

An application programming interface (API) is how the plugin functions.

An application programming interface (API) is a set of rules (called protocols) that acts as a bridge between two different programs.

In this case, ChatGPT is one program and the developer-created plugin is another program, with an API in between to enable the two programs to work together.

According to the official OpenAI documentation for plugin creators:

“OpenAI plug-ins connect ChatGPT to third-party applications. These plug-ins enable ChatGPT to interact with developer-defined APIs, increasing ChatGPT’s capabilities and allowing it to perform a wide range of actions.

• Plugins enable ChatGPT to carry out tasks like:
• Real-time information retrieval; For example, sports results, stock prices, latest news, etc.
• retrieving knowledge base data, such as business documents, private notes, etc.

Perform tasks on the user’s behalf, such ordering food or reserving a flight, etc.An intelligent API caller is represented by the AI model. Given an API specification and a natural language description of when to use the API, the model proactively calls the API to perform the action.

For instance, a user might inquire, “Where should I stay in Paris for two nights?”, a typical hotel booking plugin calls the API, receives the API response, and combines the API data with the user-facing interface. An answer can be formulated. and his natural linguistic abilities.”

Examples of third-party plugins that are already built:

• Expedia
• Instacart
• KAYAK
• OpenTable
• Shopify
• Slack
• Zapier

GPT chat Plugins

Access to the ChatGPT plugin is currently being offered on a limited basis to ChatGPT Plus users and developers on the waiting list.

Users who want access to these plugins can also sign up for a waitlist (the same waitlist is used for both users and developers).

The official announcement stated that the plugin has access to an introductory alpha level and that they plan to eventually release the plugin to more users over time.

Read the official OpenAI announcement:

ChatGPT plugins