ChatGPT

ChatGPT is OpenAI’s general-purpose assistant — the product that brought AI chat to a general audience, and still the first one most people try. It runs on OpenAI’s own GPT models; the free and paid tiers get different models, and the paid tiers are noticeably stronger on reasoning and much more generous on usage.

Its real strength is breadth. Web search, file and data analysis, image generation, custom GPTs and voice conversation all live behind one interface, so a task that needs several capabilities does not send you elsewhere. Other assistants often beat it on a single dimension, but few cover this much ground.

The weaknesses are equally clear. On long documents or tasks with strict formatting requirements, the output tends to drift from the instructions partway through. Its Chinese is competent but reads less naturally than the domestic models — worth comparing directly if you write Chinese copy.

Key features

• Multi-model chat: Everyday Q&A, writing, translation and brainstorming, with stronger reasoning models available on paid tiers.
• Web search: Can search the web while answering and cite its sources, useful for recent information.
• File and data analysis: Upload PDFs, spreadsheets or images and ask about them; it can also run code to process data and draw charts.
• Image generation: Create or edit images from a text description without leaving the conversation.
• Custom GPTs: Package a fixed prompt, reference files and capabilities into a dedicated assistant for yourself or others.
• Voice mode: Talk to it directly in the mobile app — handy for language practice or asking questions on the move.

How to use

1. Go to chatgpt.com, or install the official app from your phone’s app store.
2. Sign up with an email address or a Google, Apple or similar account.
3. Type your question; use the attachment button to add files or images when needed.
4. If the result misses the mark, follow up or ask for a rewrite with specific requirements — the more precise, the better.
5. For tasks you repeat often, turn your prompt into a custom GPT so you do not have to explain it every time.

Best for

• Multi-step work: search for material, analyse a spreadsheet, then write it up — all in one place.
• English writing and translation: consistently solid output with flexible control over tone.
• Data wrangling: have it write code to clean, summarise and chart a spreadsheet, even if you do not program.
• Learning: breaking an unfamiliar concept down through follow-up questions is often easier than searching.

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• The broadest feature set, with many capabilities in a single interface.
• A huge user base means the most tutorials, prompts and shared experience when you get stuck.
• The paid-tier models are among the strongest available.

Limitations

• The gap between free and paid models is substantial; the free tier struggles on complex tasks.
• Output tends to drift on long documents and strict formatting requirements.
• Its Chinese prose is less natural than the domestic models.
• Not reachable from mainland China, and signup needs a non-mainland phone number. Most “direct access” mirrors are relays that route your conversation through a third-party server — think before pasting anything sensitive.