ChatGPT Plugins and Web Browsing Features Revealed

Table of Contents

• Overview of the New ChatGPT Interface
• Testing ChatGPT's Web Browsing Capabilities
• Experimenting with ChatGPT Plugins
• Key Takeaways and Future Possibilities

Overview of the New ChatGPT Interface

ChatGPT has released a major update that includes plugins and web browsing capabilities for ChatGPT Plus users. The interface has been completely redesigned with options to select between the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models. There are also new browsing and plugins modes that allow expanded functionality.

To enable the new beta features for plugins and web browsing, you need to go to settings and toggle them on. However, some users have reported only getting access to one feature so far, so the rollout seems to be gradual.

GPT-3.5 vs GPT-4 Model Options

ChatGPT now allows users to select between the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models. GPT-3.5 is optimized for faster performance on everyday tasks, while GPT-4 is more advanced and exclusively available to paying ChatGPT Plus users.

Browsing vs Plugins Modes

In browsing mode, ChatGPT can search the web and click on links to gather information. Plugins mode allows you to connect ChatGPT to external apps and services for expanded capabilities.

Enabling Beta Features

To use web browsing and plugins, you need to enable them in settings under "Beta Features". However, the rollout seems gradual - some users only have access to one feature so far.

Testing ChatGPT's Web Browsing Capabilities

ChatGPT's new built-in web browsing tool is still in early beta stages. When put to the test, it struggled with some key limitations:

Most link clicks failed due to restrictions from OpenAI on what sites ChatGPT can access. Without more website access, the web browsing capability is severely limited.

When a click did succeed to an allowed site like OpenAI's homepage, ChatGPT provided accurate information. But explicit links need to be provided since searches often fail.

Searching for Information

When given basic searches like "Who is Mattvid Pro AI", ChatGPT struggled to provide accurate, up-to-date information. The results seemed on-par with what Bing Chat would provide rather than leveraging the open web.

Click Failures and Restricted Websites

The majority of link clicks attempted during testing failed. Twitter, YouTube, and other popular sites seem to be completely restricted currently. This greatly limits how useful the browsing feature can be until more site access is granted.

Experimenting with ChatGPT Plugins

While ChatGPT's built-in web browsing tool is limited, the third-party plugins show early promise for expanding capabilities:

There are already over 100 plugins available, enabling integrations with sites like YouTube, Spotify, Reddit, and more. The diagram, PDF, math, and stock plugins seem particularly useful.

Diagram, PDF and Math Plugins

The Show Me diagram plugin successfully created visualizations of concepts, data relationships and more. PDF plugins allow ChatGPT to parse data from documents to answer questions. And Wolfram|Alpha integration provides accurate, step-by-step math calculations.

Wolfram Alpha for Complex Calculations

The Wolfram Alpha plugin stands out for its reliable math and data calculation capabilities. It can answer complex questions like how many chickens could fit in the Grand Canyon, breaking the process down step-by-step.

Key Takeaways and Future Possibilities

While still in beta, the new plugins and browsing capabilities show potential for expanding how ChatGPT can gather and present information. As the plugins mature and restrictions on web access loosen, ChatGPT may become exponentially more powerful.

For now, the most robust functionality comes from third-party integrations rather than the built-in tools. But over time, seamless web browsing and analysis could become possible within ChatGPT itself. The groundwork is being laid for the next major leap in AI assistance capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What new features does the ChatGPT update include?
A: The update includes web browsing capabilities and access to third-party plugins that expand ChatGPT's functionality.

Q: How well did the new web browsing feature work?
A: The web browsing was very limited and struggled to successfully click links due to strict restrictions from OpenAI.

Q: Which ChatGPT plugin performed the best?
A: The Wolfram Alpha plugin provided the most useful functionality for complex math and calculations.

Q: What potential does this update have for the future?
A: More plugins and expanded web access could make ChatGPT far more powerful and functional over time.