Comprehensive ChatGPT Review: Latest Features, Pros, and Cons

ChatGPT’s Fast Facts

Our product rating: 4/5

Pricing: Free version; $20 monthly for paid plan

Key features:

Analyzing uploaded images

Generating high-quality generative content

Creating videos with third-party applications

Generating scripts, articles, and other text

Automating tasks with ChatGPT-powered applications

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ChatGPT is an advanced conversational AI developed by OpenAI to act as a functional assistant in a range of activities, including answering questions and generating creative content. It uses a large language model (LLM) trained on diverse datasets to engage in sophisticated conversations, provide technical help, and tell stories. Its ability to identify context and nuance helps it stand out from other chatbots, with human-like responses. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ToggleChatGPT’s Fast FactsChatGPT’s PricingChatGPT’s Key FeaturesChatGPT Pros and ConsAlternatives to ChatGPTHow I Evaluated ChatGPTFAQBottom Line: ChatGPT Excels at General Generative Content Creation and Research

ChatGPT’s Pricing

ChatGPT has a free version that allows users to access most of its integrated applications within the platform. Users have full access to GPT-4o mini and limited access to GPT-4. ChatGPT’s paid version costs $20 per month and includes new features plus access to OpenAI o1-preview, OpenAI o1-mini, GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini, and GPT-4; up to five times more messages for GPT‑4o; access to data analysis, file uploads, vision, web browsing, and image generation; and advanced voice mode.

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ChatGPT’s Key Features

ChatGPT provides a set of robust features aimed at increasing efficiency and creativity across a variety of jobs. It can create and analyze images, making it an excellent choice for visual projects and data insights. ChatGPT allows you to create detailed plans and strategies, brainstorm ideas, and generate actionable solutions. It can write code for technical tasks, saving developers time and creating clear, compelling writing for every occasion. ChatGPT can also summarize long texts into shorter and more digestible information.

Creating Images

ChatGPT’s generative AI feature lets you create images using text prompts like other AI art tools. For the image below, I asked ChatGPT to create an image of a beach during sunset with a hammock tied to coconut trees and dogs chasing a Phoenix around the shore. It generated an image almost instantly with visuals close to what I pictured. More specific prompts would likely have fine-tuned the image even further.

Analyzing Images

To test the tool’s ability to use its multimodal nature to analyze images it did not create, I uploaded an image of a cigarette-smoking fish with a chicken’s body and asked ChatGPT for its interpretation. It described the image as a “humorous, surreal creation… likely intended as a piece of absurdist humor or social commentary” and identified it as possibly a meme.

Writing Code for Programming

ChatGPT’s ability to generate programming code can be both effective and, occasionally, challenging. It frequently generates useful code that may be directly applied to tasks ranging from simple scripts to sophisticated programs, but in some cases, the initial result may require extra prompts or revisions to match the specific needs of your application or project. In short, ChatGPT-generated code may function properly out of the box in some circumstances, but it may also require refining or debugging to solve specific edge cases, maximize efficiency, or before being integrated into a broader codebase. This iterative method can lead to good code solutions but may require some back-and-forth to obtain the desired results.

Writing Short and Long-Form Content

Content writing is one of ChatGPT’s specialties. This includes long-form content like articles, book chapters, and case studies or shorter content like social media descriptions, templates, and newsletter items. The clarity of this content will hinge on the accuracy of your prompts. In the example below, I gave a simple prompt with a topic and word count. You’ll want to proofread or fact-check ChatGPT’s work to avoid potential plagiarism, correct inaccuracies, and make the content sound more human in origin.

Writing Product Descriptions

ChatGPT’s ability to create product descriptions can be used for a social media campaign or a product page on an e-commerce site. I tested its ability to create product descriptions by uploading a mock image of a dog food brand and asking it to create a description with information about health benefits and flavors. In addition, I prompted it to make the description sound more informative so that it could be easily understood. ChatGPT’s generated response turned out better than I expected by far. It gave me a good hook, body, and dog food flavors, and a call to action at the end of the description.

Analyzing Complex Context

ChatGPT can analyze contextual data and make suggestions based on different scenarios, making it useful for various tasks. Its responses are generated using the vast dataset on which it was trained. This dataset comprises a wide range of human language subjects and patterns up to the knowledge cutoff date of October 2023.

ChatGPT uses its basic understanding to identify patterns and replicate conversational context, allowing it to make assumptions about human intention, provide clarifications, and participate in interactive discussions. However, it does not have real-time access to current events or personal user information. As a result, ChatGPT’s generated answers are created using general knowledge rather than real-time changes, making it particularly suited for static information, creative brainstorming, problem-solving, and explaining concepts in depth.

Making Travel Plans

I tested ChatGPT by asking it to plan a trip to Siargao in the Philippines. In one scenario, I will work the first week while on the island; in the second, I have time off work with full flexibility regarding activities. ChatGPT generated itineraries suitable for both scenarios. The places it suggested I visit are all real and still in existence and all the activities are doable and popular with Siargao visitors.

During the work week, ChatGPT suggested famous places for morning or evening visits so that I could still commit to my working hours. ChatGPT organized activities like island hopping, surfing, and exploring scenic places (including the Sugba Lagoon and Secret Island) for the fully flexible week.

Summarizing Long Texts

In addition to writing articles and descriptions, ChatGPT can help summarize long-form content into shorter, easy-to-read paragraphs. I asked it to summarize eWeek’s 10 Best AI Art Prompts article, and in a few seconds, it narrowed down the prompts and examples and gave me a concise summary. This function saves time and is useful for quickly understanding complex or extensive information. ChatGPT helps readers focus on important takeaways, making it valuable for professionals, students, and creatives who need to quickly absorb knowledge from several sources. It can be applied to various research papers, instructional articles, and creative resources.

Turning Texts into a Video

ChatGPT’s video production feature is powered by an app from the ChatGPT application store that links smoothly to the api.adzedek.com API. Provide a brief description of your intended video, and the app will create a proposed script and walk you through the video creation process. First, it will direct you to InVideo to see the generated video, which includes high-quality, human-like voice narration over carefully selected stock images and internet footage. This integration provides an excellent, simplified experience for effortlessly making interesting, professional-quality videos.

Automating Tasks Using Internal GPT Applications

ChatGPT now provides Custom GPTs, or customized versions of the platform for specific activities or applications. OpenAI maintains a growing list of various GPTs. Some are available via the ChatGPT app, and others are built by users for specific purposes. These GPTs are intended to assist with common activities like scheduling, note-taking, brainstorming, idea generating, content creation, business and data analysis, programming and development, teaching and tutoring, and creative arts.

Productivity GPTs aid with day-to-day tasks such as scheduling and task management, whereas content creation GPTs assist writers, marketers, and creatives in content generation. Business and data analysis GPTs examine and evaluate statistics, collect information on industry trends, and make recommendations for business choices. Programming and development GPTs assist developers with writing code samples, troubleshooting issues, and creating technical documentation.

Education and Tutoring GPTs facilitate learning and teaching in various topics, including arithmetic, science, history, and language learning. Creative Arts GPTs assist artists, designers, and musicians in pursuing artistic interests like design and art conceptions, music and lyrics composing, and food and meal planning. Users can design their GPTs by specifying instructions and uploading appropriate documents or data.

ChatGPT Pros and Cons

The table below summarizes this popular tool’s main pros and cons to help you decide whether it’s the best application for your needs.

ProsConsFree version offers an extensive list of extra GPT applicationsFree version can’t access real-time information from the internetGenerative content abilities can help speed up day-to-day tasksGenerative content may hallucinate from time to timeCustomizable generative content is possible through its Customize ChatGPT settingLacks emotional empathy for complex situations

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Alternatives to ChatGPT

ChatGPT is among the most popular AI chatbots, but it’s not the only one. Other chatbots, including Claude, Perplexity, and Meta AI, have different strengths and weaknesses that may better meet your needs. The table below shows how they compare at a high level, or read on for more detailed information about each application.

ChatGPTClaudePerplexityMeta AIStarting price• Free• $20 per month• Free• $20 per month for Pro• $25 per person/ month for Team• Free• $20 per month with one month free• FreeReal-time access to the internetYes (with subscription)NoYesLimitedGenerate ImagesYesYesNoYesRespond in a human-like toneYesYesYesYesAnalyze uploaded imagesYesYesNoNo

Claude

Anthropic’s Claude AI is a large language model that focuses on providing safe, reliable conversational AI and natural language understanding. Claude AI is known for its alignment and safety-first strategy, which strives to reduce harmful or biased answers, making it suitable for sensitive applications and use cases requiring ethical AI interactions. One of Claude’s distinguishing qualities is its capacity to manage long conversations. It has a memory that can retain past conversations and details, making interactions smoother and more consistent over time. It also provides configurable user control, allowing users to tailor Claude’s “personality” to meet their requirements and tastes. Claude AI provides both free and paid options, with the Claude Pro plan beginning at roughly $20 per month. Enterprise pricing is available for organizations requiring tailored solutions.

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Perplexity

Perplexity is an AI-powered search-and-answer assistant that provides users with fast, conversational responses to complicated questions. Its real-time access to the internet replicates a search engine but with more context-driven responses. Perplexity AI gives summary information from various reliable sources, allowing users to acquire direct and brief responses without having to go through search engine results. It is beneficial for research and general questions, integrating search engine features with conversational AI to provide a more user-friendly experience. Perplexity provides free and paid plans, with the premium Perplexity Pro starting at $20 monthly. The Pro subscription contains additional features such as quicker reaction times, priority access to new features, and potentially improved accuracy for professional and heavy users.

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Meta AI

Meta AI is Meta’s chatbot platform, which includes a wide range of AI models and tools targeted at enhancing both practical AI applications and basic AI research. Meta AI’s solutions include the open-source LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) focused on natural language processing (NLP) and creation. This is intended to work smoothly across Meta’s ecosystem of platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Meta AI’s multimodal features allow it to handle tasks such as image, video, and text generation, making it adaptable and applicable to a wide range of applications. Meta AI is free to use and can be accessed online through its website or Meta’s popular messaging apps such as Messenger, Instagram DMs, and WhatsApp.

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How I Evaluated ChatGPT

I placed the highest weights on features, price, and ease of use, followed by integrations, intelligence, and regulatory compliance.

Core Features (25 Percent): ChatGPT’s core features should suffice for every user. The general purpose of using an AI chatbot is to create and analyze images and generate outputs that sound personalized to each user. I found the feature set to be strong and deep, offering a wide range of capabilities for many common user applications.

Price (20 Percent): I looked into ChatGPT’s pricing information and whether or not they offer a free trial or free version of the chatbot. Users are more inclined to use AI if it is free or doesn’t cost much for its monthly subscription to access its advanced features.

Ease of Use (20 Percent): I tested ChatGPT’s web and mobile application versions to see how convenient their navigation is, how quickly they respond to my prompts, and how long their loading time is.

Integrations (15 Percent): In addition to generating different types of AI content on its own chatbox, ChatGPT also has integrated applications within its interface. I tested a few of these GPT-powered applications, and each is designed for a specific task, such as brainstorming, writing, video and image generator, and more.

Intelligence (10 Percent): Users are using ChatGPT for research purposes, which is why I added intelligence in this category. I tested ChatGPT’s knowledge base by asking questions related to recent events. As a result, ChatGPT can generate generic answers or information as of its knowledge cut-off date of October 2023.

Regulatory Compliance (10 Percent): AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, use large amounts of data for model training. This data may contain personal information, and users must be aware of how their data is being used. I found out that ChatGPT’s compliance with GDPR is complex and not fully established, but its API is complying with DPA for OpenAI’s APIs.

FAQ

What do People Use ChatGPT For? ChatGPT is a versatile tool with a wide range of uses in personal, professional, and educational spaces. Users often take advantage of Chatgot to generate blog entries, articles, social media captions, and image and video generation. It can also be used to do general research and build business strategies since it can help brainstorm and simplify complex situations. Many businesses also benefit from ChatGPT since it can write code for a website or application, automate emails, generate customer service chatbots, draft marketing materials, and optimize workflows. What Are the Risks of ChatGPT? Even though ChatGP is convenient for general research and generating content, it occasionally shows signs of hallucinations. It sometimes needs to be more consistent with its responses, making it difficult to validate the accuracy of its generated information. Social biases included in its training data may be reflected in its outputs, potentially causing harm. Users relying too much on ChatGPT may be unable to think critically and be less likely to double-check facts or apply their judgment when needed. Is it Worth Subscribing to ChatGPT?  Understanding what you need from ChatGPT will allow you to know whether you need to pay for its subscription or take advantage of its free version. ChatGPT is worth subscribing to if you need a faster response time, access to OpenAI’s image generator DALL-E, and access to real-time information on the internet. But if you use ChatGPT for its basic features, the free version of ChatGPT is more than enough to help you with anything that you need.

Bottom Line: ChatGPT Excels at General Generative Content Creation and Research

ChatGPT is a great tool for brainstorming, creating generative content, and carrying out research quickly. It is a useful tool for individuals and professionals and even helps writers because of its fast adaptation to a variety of tasks. Users must approach its outputs thoughtfully, verifying facts and guaranteeing authenticity to avoid potential issues such as inaccuracies or inadvertent plagiarism. The best outcomes are achieved by combining ChatGPT’s automation with human contribution, even while it speeds up workflows and fosters creativity. It can be a transformative tool for addressing intellectual and artistic obstacles when used properly.

To learn more about the artificial intelligence tools for help with day-to-day tasks, read our guide to the best generative AI chatbots.
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