ChatGPT — Independent Software Review

Conversational AI that understands and generates human-like text.

Compliance Transparency Index

Grade: A — Score: 90/100

Best For

Not Ideal For

Operational Overview

ChatGPT leverages cutting-edge machine learning techniques, specifically the transformer architecture, to generate coherent and contextually relevant text based on user input. It is trained on diverse datasets, allowing it to understand a wide range of topics and respond in a human-like manner.

The workflow of ChatGPT involves a user providing a prompt, which the model processes to generate a relevant response. This interaction can be applied in various scenarios, including customer support, content creation, and educational assistance, making it a versatile tool for businesses and individuals alike.

However, there are risks associated with using ChatGPT, including potential biases in responses, the generation of incorrect or misleading information, and privacy concerns regarding user data. Users should be aware of these limitations and use the tool responsibly.

Pricing Structure

Free: $0

Go: $8/month

Plus: $20/month

Pro: $100/month or $200/month

Business: $25/user/month (billed annually) or $30 month-to-month

Enterprise: Custom (contact sales)

Alternative Consideration

Consider switching to Google Bard: Google Bard offers similar conversational AI capabilities with integration into Google's ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ChatGPT analyze PDFs, Excel files, CSVs, and presentations?

ChatGPT supports common document, spreadsheet, presentation, and text formats, including PDF, XLSX, CSV, DOCX, PPTX, and TXT. It can summarize documents, compare files, identify trends, run Python-based calculations, and create tables or charts from structured data. Individual uploads have a 512 MB hard limit, while spreadsheets are generally limited to about 50 MB and text or document files to 2 million tokens.

Does ChatGPT remember previous conversations, and can ChatGPT memory be turned off?

When memory is enabled, ChatGPT can use relevant context from past chats, files, and connected apps to personalize later responses. You can review, edit, delete, or disable memory under Settings and Personalization. Temporary Chat does not use existing memories, create new memories, appear in chat history, or contribute to model training.

What is the difference between ChatGPT Projects and custom GPTs?

ChatGPT Projects are workspaces for ongoing efforts, keeping related chats, uploaded files, and project instructions together with built-in project context. Custom GPTs are reusable no-code assistants configured with instructions, knowledge, tools, apps, or actions for a repeatable task. Custom GPT conversations start fresh and do not use saved memory, account custom instructions, or previous conversations.

Can ChatGPT search the web and provide citations?

ChatGPT Search can retrieve current web information and include inline citations that open the supporting sources. Deep research can combine the public web, uploaded files, and eligible connected apps to produce a longer sourced report. A response generated without Search or deep research should not be treated as having verified source provenance.

Can ChatGPT connect to Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Slack, and GitHub?

ChatGPT supports apps that can bring permitted content from services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Slack, and GitHub into a conversation. Depending on the app, ChatGPT may search or summarize connected information, cite relevant repository content, or request approval before taking an external action. Availability depends on the subscription, region, workspace configuration, and administrator settings.

Does OpenAI use ChatGPT conversations to train its models?

For consumer ChatGPT accounts, conversations may be used to improve models when Improve the model for everyone is enabled. Turning that setting off under Settings and Data Controls keeps conversations in chat history but excludes new conversations from model training. OpenAI states that ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Edu inputs and outputs are not used for training by default.

Can custom GPT creators see conversations users have in ChatGPT?

OpenAI states that custom GPT builders cannot view individual conversations users have with their GPTs. A GPT can still send relevant parts of a prompt to an external app or API when that integration is used, and the third party may apply its own privacy and retention terms. Users should review approval prompts and only use GPT integrations they trust.

Can ChatGPT export chat history and account data?

Eligible ChatGPT accounts can request a data export through Settings and Data Controls or through OpenAI's Privacy Portal. The downloaded ZIP includes chat history and other relevant account data, and OpenAI says delivery can take up to seven days. The download link expires 24 hours after the export is delivered.

Can ChatGPT Projects be shared with teammates?

Projects are available across free and paid ChatGPT subscriptions, but shared Projects are documented for Business, Enterprise, and Edu workspaces. Shared Projects keep the relevant chats, files, and instructions in one workspace so permitted teammates can collaborate with the same project context. Access still depends on workspace permissions and administrator controls.

How should ChatGPT be used for research that requires factual accuracy?

ChatGPT can produce incorrect or unsupported statements, so factual research should use Search or deep research and check the cited sources directly. Uploaded source documents and connected apps can narrow the evidence base, but important claims should still be verified against the original material. This is especially important for legal, medical, financial, and procurement decisions.

AI Visibility Report

How AI agents (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, others) read this review page in the past 7 days. Updated weekly. View ChatGPT AI Visibility Report.