OpenAI just announced that ChatGPT is getting even more powerful with plugins that allow AI to access certain parts of the Internet. This extension can simplify tasks such as shopping and planning trips without the need to access multiple websites for research.
This new web integration is currently in testing with select partners. The list includes Expedia, Fiscalnote, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Milo, OpenTable, Shopify, Slack, Speak, Wolfram and Zapier.
These are data-intensive companies, some serving millions of users for travel planning, shopping, gathering information and organizing events. There is a clear advantage to using AI to simplify these tasks and ease user interaction.
OpenAI displayed a vegan recipe and an advanced request for a vegan restaurant in San Francisco. Plugins for WolframAlpha, OpenTable and Instacart were installed from the Plugin Store.
The problem of the recipe was compounded by asking for “just the ingredients” and then that calorie count had to be calculated with WolframAlpha. OpenAI also generated an order for the material on Instacart.
ChatGPT responded quickly with a vegetarian restaurant and a link to make reservations on OpenTable. The ingredients for a chickpea salad, along with the calories for each item, automatically round up to the correct portion size. Lastly, an Instacart link is provided to order the ingredients. ChatGPT includes a promotional message, enticing new users with free distribution.
When it comes time to place an order or book a reservation, it’s on each company’s website. In the future, we may rely heavily on AI to make purchasing decisions.
ChatGPT also realized that you probably wouldn’t want to order bulk items for a single meal. Olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings were not included in the Instacart order. OpenAI Posted video on Twitter.
OpenAI’s blog post highlights an important detail when AI is used for business – security and alignment. Because the plugins use the Internet and due to ongoing issues of AI confusion, ChatGPT Plugins will double-check the reliability of the results.
In addition to partner plugins, OpenAI will be testing two of its own, Browsing and Code Interpreter.
With the Browsing Plugin, ChatGPT can access the Internet directly, using Bing and a text browser for searching while gathering information from web pages. This may be similar to Bing Chat, which also uses GPT-4 and has access to the Internet.
The code interpreter is unique in that it allows ChatGPT to run Python code within strictly controlled boundaries, described as a sandboxed, firewalled execution environment. This allows you to perform complex calculations based on traditional computer code instead of relying on the sometimes confusing answers provided by AI.
This vast expansion of ChatGPT’s capabilities comes with risks, and OpenAI is proceeding cautiously. The timeline for the rollout of ChatGPT plugins depends on how well it performs in these early tests.
A small number of ChatGPT-Plus users will have access to the plugins. OpenAI has a waitlist for those requesting access, and the ChatGPT plugins will eventually roll out to more companies and users.
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