How To Use Chatgpt: A Beginner's Guide To The Most Popular Ai Chatbot

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 A beginner's guide
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ChatGPT is simply a popular AI chatbot created by OpenAI. It launched successful precocious 2022 and has been continually improving ever since pinch each caller update and exemplary release. You tin inquire it to do thing -- whether it's writing emails aliases essays, generating images and videos, brainstorming ideas, translating languages, helping pinch coding, aliases simply answering random questions. 

Also: Research suggests dense ChatGPT usage mightiness make you lonelier

OpenAI offers a free type ChatGPT arsenic good arsenic paid plans pinch other features for those who want to do much pinch it. In this guide, I'll show you really to get started and make nan astir of ChatGPT for immoderate you need.

How to usage ChatGPT

What you'll need: A machine aliases telephone pinch an net connection. ChatGPT is simply a website aliases app, and it's free to get started pinch it.

Go to ChatGPT's tract aliases download nan app
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

OpenAI has made it imaginable to usage ChatGPT instantly without creating an account. This makes nan AI accessible to everyone funny astir it but not consenting to return an other infinitesimal to motion up. Keep successful mind creating an relationship unlocks further features specified arsenic redeeming chat history, sharing conversations, and more.

Also: ChatGPT's caller image generator creates stunning images - for immoderate users

Here's really you tin motion up:

  1. Visit nan ChatGPT website: Go to the ChatGPT homepage.
  2. Start nan signup process: Click connected nan "sign up" button.
  3. Choose a signup method: Enter your email reside and create a beardown password. Or you tin usage your Google, Microsoft, aliases Apple relationship for a quicker process. Either way, erstwhile signed up, cheque your email inbox for a verification nexus from OpenAI. 
  4. Stay free aliases upgrade: If you create an account, you tin past subscribe. There are respective plans available, each offering different benefits. OpenAI does connection a free tier that you tin commencement utilizing correct away, though it has immoderate usage limits. 

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Create a ChatGPT account... aliases don't
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Now that you're logged in, let's look astatine nan layout of nan web type truthful you cognize wherever everything is:

  • Sidebar: On nan near side, you person entree to cardinal features for illustration nan ChatGPT, Sora, and DALL·E options, on pinch Explore GPTs to find different GPTs. There's besides a Search icon astatine nan apical of nan sidebar to quickly find immoderate conversations aliases tools. 
  • Model selection: At nan top, you tin take nan ChatGPT exemplary you want to interact with, specified arsenic ChatGPT-4 mini.
  • Text area: If you've selected ChatGPT successful nan sidebar, you'll spot a surface pinch a matter input section to type your questions aliases prompts. Depending connected nan exemplary you're using, you mightiness besides spot options for illustration Search, which lets you look things up online, aliases Deep Research, which allows for much elaborate analysis. Plus, there's a + fastener that lets you upload media, for illustration images, to analyse aliases see successful your project.
  • Profile: Click connected your floor plan icon to entree much options, including Settings, wherever you tin set features and preferences. You tin besides spot nan Upgrade Plan fastener if you'd for illustration to unlock further features. There's an action to Log Out arsenic well.
  • Temporary chat: On nan ChatGPT screen, you mightiness besides announcement a Temporary Chat fastener successful nan top-right. When enabled, this intends your chat won't look successful history aliases beryllium utilized to create memories aliases train models. 
  • Share: The Share fastener astatine nan top-right allows you to easy stock your existent convention aliases activity pinch others.
  • View plans: If you're looking for different subscription options, you tin entree nan View Plans conception to comparison and take nan scheme that fits your needs.

Also: You tin group ChatGPT arsenic your default Android adjunct now. Here's how

The mobile app is group up similarly, pinch 1 main difference: Your floor plan and settings are located astatine nan bottommost of nan sidebar. You besides won't spot Sora successful nan app's sidebar, but location are different GPTs to use.

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Navigate ChatGPT to amended understand it
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

It tin get confusing deciding which ChatGPT exemplary to use. 

The TL;DR is GPT-4o mini is free for each users, while different models for illustration GPT-4o, o1, o3-mini, and o3-mini-high require a subscription to entree and travel pinch their ain usage limits. 

Also: ChatGPT's personification guidelines conscionable doubled successful 6 months - to much than 400 cardinal play users

Here's a array that breaks it each down for you:

ModelFeaturesLimitationsWho tin usage it?
GPT-4o miniQuick and businesslike for mundane tasks. Handles text, images, and voice, and tin move matter prompts into images.Limited uses each 5 hours for free users.Free
GPT-4oExcellent for detailed, imaginative tasks and generates realistic images. Handles text, images, audio, and video.Up to 80 messages each 3 hours for Plus users.Plus, Pro, Team
GPT-4.5Also awesome for intuitive tasks for illustration writing, design, and solving wide problems.Limited monthly usage for Pro, Plus and Team subscribers.Pro initially, past Plus, Team
o1Ideal for solving analyzable STEM aliases logical problems.Up to 50 messages per week for Plus and Team subscribers; much for Pro.Plus, Pro, Team
o3-miniFast philosopher for speedy yet tricky reasoning tasks.50 messages per time for Plus and Team users; higher regular limits for Pro users.Plus, Pro, Team
o3-mini-highPerfect for coding, logic, and analyzable computational tasks, pinch faster and much meticulous results than o3-mini.50 messages per week for Plus and Team; higher play limits for Pro.Plus, Pro, Team
GPT-4o pinch Scheduled TasksIntegrates scheduling into conversations, automatically sets reminders, and follows up connected tasks.Limited based connected your organization's Team plan.Team
o1 Pro ModeA much powerful type of o1 designed for tackling highly elaborate and challenging problems.Weekly usage limits owed to precocious computational needs.Pro
OperatorPerforms tasks connected nan web autonomously, integrates pinch apps and tools.Limited tasks per month, depending connected subscription (Pro aliases Team).Pro, Team

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Decide which ChatGPT exemplary to use
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Once you've chosen a model, it's clip to inquire ChatGPT something. Just type your mobility aliases petition into nan matter box. Here are immoderate tips to get nan champion responses:

  • Be specific: The much specifications you provide, nan amended ChatGPT tin understand your petition and springiness you a tailored response. Instead of asking a wide mobility like, "Tell maine astir dogs," effort thing much specific, for illustration "What are nan wellness benefits of adopting a canine from a shelter?" aliases "Can you explicate nan differences betwixt a Labrador and a Husky successful position of temperament and workout needs?"
  • Use clear instructions: If you person a circumstantial format aliases type of consequence successful mind, make judge to see that successful your prompt. For example, if you're looking for a database of ideas, inquire for "10 day gift ideas for a 10-year-old" alternatively of conscionable asking for "gift ideas." Similarly, if you want a poem, specify nan style, for illustration "Can you constitute a rhyming poem astir nan country?" Being clear helps ChatGPT cognize precisely what you're expecting.
  • Break down analyzable requests: If your mobility is multi-part aliases has respective components, break it down into smaller, easier-to-understand prompts. For example, alternatively of asking, "How do I commencement a business, and what are nan ineligible requirements?", ask, "Can you database nan first steps to starting a business?" followed by, "What are nan ineligible requirements for registering a business successful New York?"
  • Provide context: Giving immoderate inheritance accusation tin thief ChatGPT understand nan bigger picture. For instance, if you're asking for thief pinch penning a letter, fto ChatGPT cognize nan intent (e.g., "I request thief penning a thank-you missive to a teacher") truthful it tin tailor its consequence to that circumstantial context.
  • Follow up: If ChatGPT's reply isn't precisely what you were looking for, don't hesitate to inquire follow-up questions aliases supply further specifications to refine nan response. For example, "Can you explicate that successful simpler terms?" aliases "Could you adhd much examples?" This helps constrictive down nan reply and gives you a much meticulous result.

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Start entering prompts
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

What is ChatGPT and what tin you inquire it?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, an AI investigation statement started by Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, John Schulman, and Wojciech Zaremba. Although Musk and immoderate of nan original co-founders are not progressive pinch OpenAI anymore, Altman is still location and moving nan show arsenic CEO. 

Basically, OpenAI's main product, ChatGPT, tin assistance you pinch a assortment of tasks -- for illustration answering questions, offering advice, penning content, and moreover generating images and videos. You tin inquire ChatGPT almost anything. Some communal uses include:

  • Advice: Relationship, career, aliases individual advice.
  • Data-related requests: Analyzing and summarizing information.
  • Browsing/search: Ask it to find accusation aliases trends.
  • Deep research: Detailed explanations connected analyzable topics.
  • Image procreation pinch DALL·E: Generate images from prompts.
  • File uploads: Upload files for study aliases summarization.

How overmuch does ChatGPT cost?

Here's a speedy breakdown of nan user subscription plans:

PlanPrice
Free$0
Plus$20 per month
Pro$200 per month

What is ChatGPT Operator?

Operator is an precocious AI supplier disposable to ChatGPT Pro users successful nan US. It is designed to autonomously interact pinch websites utilizing its ain browser. It tin execute tasks for illustration filling retired forms, ordering groceries, booking travel, and conducting investigation by mimicking quality actions specified arsenic clicking, typing, and scrolling. It's presently a investigation preview.

What is Voice Mode vs. Advanced Voice Mode?

ChatGPT Voice Mode allows you to interact pinch ChatGPT done spoken conversation, providing a hands-free and a much earthy connection experience. The characteristic is presently disposable connected mobile devices for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. 

ChatGPT Voice Mode
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

There's besides ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, powered by GPT-4o, which besides makes conversations consciousness much natural, and it useful successful real-time. You tin interrupt, set nan flow, and moreover person nan exemplary respond to emotions successful your voice. It's disposable to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, while free users get constricted entree pinch usage caps.

What is ChatGPT Canvas?

ChatGPT Canvas is an interactive characteristic that allows you to visually shape and brainstorm ideas wrong nan ChatGPT matter interface. It provides devices for editing, organizing, and amended visualizing content.

ChatGPT Canvas
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

What is ChatGPT Tasks?

ChatGPT Tasks is simply a characteristic that allows you to schedule actions and group reminders wrong ChatGPT. You tin create one-time aliases recurring tasks, specified arsenic regular briefings aliases regular reminders, and person notifications upon task completion. This characteristic is presently successful beta and disposable pinch nan Plus scheme aliases higher.

Can you hunt nan web pinch ChatGPT?

Yes. ChatGPT has integrated web hunt capabilities, allowing it to entree and supply up-to-date accusation from nan internet. This characteristic is presently disposable to ChatGPT Plus subscribers aliases higher.

Can you make images pinch ChatGPT?

Yes. You tin usage nan DALL·E exemplary to create images from prompts. This characteristic is presently disposable pinch nan Plus scheme aliases higher. 

ChatGPT image generator
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

In March 2025, OpenAI launched its caller GPT-4o image generator, which is simply a large upgrade from nan aged DALL-E. It's overmuch amended astatine handling tricky prompts, creating realistic images, and moreover nailing matter successful images. You tin besides tweak images pinch multi-turn chats, usage circumstantial colors, and do things for illustration make transparent backgrounds. Right now, it's disposable to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, and it's decidedly much competitory pinch different apical image generators retired there.

Can you make videos pinch ChatGPT?

Yes. You tin make videos utilizing Sora. This characteristic is presently disposable pinch nan Plus scheme aliases higher.

ChatGPT Sora
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

What are GPTs?

GPTs are civilization versions of ChatGPT, designed for circumstantial tasks aliases purposes. You tin browse done existing GPTs successful nan GPT shop aliases create your ain to suit your task and needs.

What are GPTs?
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Does ChatGPT person a desktop app?

Yes, ChatGPT offers a desktop app for some Windows and MacOS users.

Can I usage ChatGPT without a login?

Yes. You do not request to create an relationship to usage ChatGPT, and you tin effort it retired pinch a free scheme earlier deciding to upgrade.

Is ChatGPT accurate?

It's important to fact-check its answers, particularly for analyzable aliases delicate topics. ChatGPT whitethorn not ever beryllium 100% accurate.

Want to study much astir ChatGPT?

Here are immoderate of ZDNET's guides connected different ways to usage ChatGPT.

How to usage ChatGPT for coding

  • How to usage ChatGPT to constitute code
  • How to usage ChatGPT to create an app
  • I utilized ChatGPT to constitute nan aforesaid regular successful 12 apical programming languages. Here's really it did
  • 25 AI tips to boost your programming productivity pinch ChatGPT
  • OpenAI launches ChatGPT canvas instrumentality for coders and writers. Here's really it works

How to usage ChatGPT for activity

  • How to usage ChatGPT to make charts and tables
  • How to usage ChatGPT to constitute Excel formulas
  • How to usage ChatGPT to build your resume
  • How to usage ChatGPT to constitute a screen missive (and why you should)
  • OpenAI's Deep Research tin prevention you hours of activity - and now it's a batch cheaper to access
  • How to usage ChatGPT to analyse PDFs (and more) for free
  • How to usage ChatGPT's Advanced Data Analysis to create value charts and tables

How to usage ChatGPT for schoolhouse

  • Need an AI effort writer? Here's really ChatGPT (and different chatbots) tin help
  • How to make ChatGPT supply sources and citations
  • How to usage ChatGPT to summarize a book, article, aliases investigation paper
  • 5 ways ChatGPT tin thief you constitute essays

Other ChatGPT tips, tricks, and useful bits

  • How to usage ChatGPT Plus
  • What is ChatGPT Pro? Here's what $200 per period gets you
  • Are ChatGPT Plus aliases Pro worthy it? Here's really they comparison to nan free version
  • How to constitute amended ChatGPT prompts for nan champion generative AI results
  • How (and why) to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus
  • How to usage ChatGPT's Voice Mode (and why you'll want to)
  • How to get ChatGPT to browse nan web for free
  • ChatGPT privateness tips: Two important ways to limit nan information you stock pinch OpenAI
  • How I group ChatGPT arsenic Siri's backup - and what other it tin do connected my iPhone
  • The ChatGPT desktop app is much adjuvant than I expected - here's why and really to effort it
  • ChatGPT has officially replaced Google Search for maine - here's why
  • Operator isn't worthy its $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro subscription yet - here's why
  • OpenAI's GPT shop is brimming pinch committedness - and spam
  • OpenAI's sound mode rolling retired to each ChatGPT subscribers - here's who gets it first
  • Have a genealogy mystery? How I utilized AI to lick a family puzzle
  • I spent hours testing ChatGPT Tasks - and its refusal to travel directions was mildly terrifying

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