ChatGPT soared its way to the center of the tech zeitgeist, becoming a whirlwind success in only a few months. 

Never before have we seen a chatbot that can write a book, pass a bar exam, or even build other AIs. 

This article covers how to access ChatGPT on your mobile device and how to avoid being scammed by new copycat chatbot apps.

How to access ChatGPT on a smartphone

As of May 2023, there's still no official ChatGPT app, but there are a few ways to get around that. The easiest method of accessing ChatGPT is through your browser: 

1. Head over to the official ChatGPT website, and click the "Try ChatGPT" button.

2. Sign up for or log into an OpenAI account. You can also choose to log in with your Google or Microsoft account too.

3. Once your account is set up, ChatGPT is ready to be used. If the chatbot fails to load, it's often due to an overload of users on the website.

Alternative ChatGPT apps for Android and iPhone

A handful of secure, highly-reviewed chatbots are appearing on the Google Play and Apple App stores. Although OpenAI created none of the following apps, they use GPT as their chatbot's backbone.

Genie: Powered by ChatGPT, GPT-3, and GPT-4, this chatbot has become a forerunner in the race for mobile AI. Genie has been commended for its abilities as an online personal assistant and offers 10 queries per day with a free subscription.

Nova AI: Boasting unlimited queries, Nova AI is a chart-topper that's already been downloaded over 1 million times. Focusing on day-to-day tasks and menial chores, Nova is the personal assistant that's aimed to make your life easier. 

Bing: If you want to get as close as possible to OpenAI's original model, Bing is your best bet. Owned by Microsoft (the main investor of OpenAI), Bing pairs this powerful AI with its renowned search engine, all in one app.

4 tips to protect against the rise of fake ChatGPT apps

ChatGPT reached its millionth visitor within a week of its release, beating Instagram as the quickest app to do so. 

Being the fastest-growing consumer app in history, it's only common sense that scammers have jumped on the opportunity to make a buck.

Between November 2022 and April 2023, Unit 42 researchers found a 910% increase in ChatGPT-related domain registrations. Of these, they found 118 malicious URLs each day. 

Let's take a look at the precautions you should take before downloading a new GPT-powered app.

#1. Browse, download, and chat over a VPN 

When you browse, your IP address and private data are visible unless you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). If you connect to a United States VPN server, any malicious apps will believe you're actually in the US, masking your real location and identity.

#2. Use one-of-a-kind passwords  

Strong, unique passwords are at the core of cybersecurity and essential to protecting your devices. If your account is hacked while trying out a chatbot app, any of your accounts with the same email and password are in danger.

#3. Install antivirus software

For years now, antivirus software has been a no-brainer for any internet user. Unfortunately, many people still don't employ this added security. One scan of a suspicious chatbot app can tell you if it's trustworthy or to stay away.

#4. Don't download from unknown sources

The developers behind the Google Play and Apple App stores work tirelessly to keep malicious apps from their platforms. This means you're relatively safe if you only download from these sources. Any app that asks for a third-party download from an unknown source should be avoided.

FAQs

Is data safe with ChatGPT?

ChatGPT keeps logs of every chat it's ever had to improve accuracy and effectiveness. Unfortunately, that means any data you place within the app will be stored on OpenAI servers. In there, your data is only safe until the event of a breach.

What is the problem with ChatGPT? 

So far, the most discerning issue with ChatGPT is the reliability of facts. Consuming so many datasets, the AI is bound to get things wrong. So before you use it for your next blog article or social media post, fact-check every single word.

How can I use ChatGPT without an OpenAI account?

So you don't want to hand over your data to another tech company but still want to give ChatGPT a go? If this sounds like you, head over to Bing Chat on a Microsoft Edge browser for a ChatGPT experience without any sign-up.

Is ChatGPT open-source? 

Open-source nerds rejoice! In reaction to OpenAI, and other closed-source chatbots being released by big tech, HuggingFace has released an open-source alternative to ChatGPT called HuggingChat.

How will ChatGPT change the way we live?

This is a very popular question at the moment, often bridging into dystopian philosophy. For a quick overview, listen to AI expert Stuart Russell explain the role this technology may take in our civilization.