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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- ChatGPT now has GPT-5, apps, deep analysis, and agent mode.
- Free to begin; Plus and Professional get quicker responses and newest instruments.Â
- Here is every part it’s good to learn about utilizing OpenAI’s AI.
ChatGPT just isn’t the identical AI chatbot that first burst onto the scene in 2022. It is a lot extra highly effective and sturdy now. This 12 months alone, OpenAI peppered us with new fashions, modes, and options to play with contained in the AI.
As an illustration, it changed GPT-4o with GPT-5 and, extra lately, launched Apps in ChatGPT, which helps you to carry third-party companies instantly into your chats. For deeper duties, there’s Deep Research, which scours the net and creates full stories with citations, and Agent Mode, which might open websites, test your calendar, or pull information from related apps like Gmail.
Additionally: ChatGPT wants to act more like an OS – as it transforms into an app platform
There’s even a Projects function that retains all of your chats organized, plus a Library to manage all your generated images. Because of all these capabilities, folks use ChatGPT for almost every part now — writing, brainstorming, translating, coding, studying, web searching, and shopping. The record goes on, and it will solely proceed as OpenAI quickly updates its AI.
There’s nonetheless a free model of ChatGPT, however the Plus and Professional plans can do quicker responses and supply entry to the newest instruments. Should you’re on the fence about which to decide on, or wish to know methods to get began, this information walks you thru methods to use ChatGPT.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s mother or father firm, filed an April 2025 lawsuit in opposition to OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in coaching and working its AI methods.)
The best way to use ChatGPT
What you will want: A pc or telephone with the web. ChatGPT works on the internet, desktop, and cell — and it is free to begin.
To get began, merely go to chatgpt.com or set up the official app from the Apple App Retailer or Google Play. In my expertise, the net model gives the fullest vary of options obtainable.
There are additionally desktop apps for Home windows and macOS that add systemwide shortcuts for rapidly launching ChatGPT and sharing your display, information, or screenshots instantly in a chat.
Additionally: Don’t use ChatGPT voice mode if you want accuracy – here’s why
You’ll be able to attempt ChatGPT with out an account in lots of areas, however signing in unlocks superior options like saved chat historical past, dialog sharing, customized directions, and better utilization limits.
- Go to ChatGPT: Go to the ChatGPT homepage.
- Join: Enter an e mail, or proceed with Google, Microsoft, or Apple.
- Confirm e mail: Observe the verification hyperlink despatched to your inbox.
- Select a plan: Keep on the Free tier, or improve to Plus or Professional.
Additionally: How ChatGPT actually works (and why it’s been so game-changing)
The ChatGPT interface could be very straightforward to make use of. The sidebar has all of your chats and settings, the chat window is the place you kind prompts, the mannequin picker controls how briskly it responds, and the instruments menu allows you to add information or entry different modes. Under is a fast take a look at the principle UI parts to know.
- Left sidebar: That is the principle hub for every part in ChatGPT. It allows you to discover your conversations, initiatives, and picture library, in addition to customized GPTs, the Codex coding workspace, and a DALL-E shortcut. Every little thing is searchable and will be rearranged with a drag and drop.
- Settings and personalization: The profile icon opens Settings for all customization and account instruments. Right here, you may modify ChatGPT’s tone and reminiscence, add customized directions, and handle linked companies like Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub. You will additionally discover choices for scheduling, privateness and safety, and billing.
- Chat window: That is the principle space for chatting, with an “Ask something” enter area on the backside. You’ll be able to kind your immediate and hit Enter to ship, or you may faucet the microphone to talk your question.
- Add information and instruments menu: The + icon subsequent to the enter area opens instruments for importing images, PDFs, spreadsheets, or screenshots, or importing from Google Drive. It additionally allows you to create a picture, do deep analysis, activate the agent mode, and add your individual sources. The Extra menu hides much more modes.
- Mannequin picker: Discovered on the high of the chat, it controls how rapidly ChatGPT responds. As an illustration, GPT-5 Auto balances pace and reasoning, however On the spot replies quicker, and GPT-5 Considering offers deeper reasoning for advanced prompts. Legacy fashions are nonetheless obtainable.
- Sharing and extra: The Share icon allows you to create public hyperlinks. Subsequent to that’s Extra, the place you may transfer a chat, archive, and delete. You will additionally see a Non permanent Chats possibility on this space. It is a mode that permits for conversations with out saving them to your historical past or utilizing them for mannequin coaching.
Additionally: The fastest growing AI chatbot lately? It’s not ChatGPT or Gemini
It is time to decide on which mannequin to make use of. As of late 2025, GPT-5 Auto is the default mannequin for many conversations. Undecided if it is your best option in your immediate? Here is a breakdown of every mannequin.
| Mannequin | What it does | Who can use it | The place to search out |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5 Auto | Default mannequin balances pace and reasoning. | Free customers: 10 messages each 5 hours earlier than switching to a mini mannequin. Plus/Professional customers: 160 messages each 3 hours. | Mannequin picker |
| GPT-5 On the spot (Quick) | Prioritizes quicker responses over deeper reasoning. | Plus/Professional customers solely. Identical message limits as GPT-5 Auto. | Mannequin picker |
| GPT-5 Considering | Makes use of deeper reasoning for advanced or multi-step prompts. | Plus, Professional, and Group customers. Capped at 3,000 messages per week. | Mannequin picker |
| GPT-5 Professional | Produces the longest, most detailed solutions. | Professional and Enterprise customers solely. Greater message caps and prolonged reasoning. | Mannequin picker. (Professional plans solely) |
| Legacy Fashions | Multimodal mannequin for textual content, picture, and audio inputs. | Plus, Enterprise, and Professional customers get GPT-4o. Enabling “Present further fashions” in Settings reveals extra (o3, o4-mini, and so on.) | Mannequin picker > Legacy Fashions. Or in Settings |
Other than fashions, there are modes and instruments in ChatGPT that mean you can transcend primary chatting. Every one is constructed for a particular activity, from in-depth analysis to real-time shopping. Most are discovered below the Instruments menu (the + icon subsequent to “Ask something”) and include utilization limits per plan.
| Mode | What it does | Who can use it | The place to search out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default | Commonplace chat mode for typing or talking prompts. | All customers. No utilization limits. | Robotically lively when chatting |
| Codex | Coding agent that analyzes repos, fixes bugs, and generates code. | Plus, Professional, Enterprise, and Enterprise customers. Capped at 200 messages per 3 hours. | Left sidebar |
| Deep Analysis | Performs autonomous, multi-step analysis and returns a cited report. | Free customers: 5 light-weight queries per thirty days. Plus and Group customers: 25 full or light-weight queries per thirty days. Professional customers: 250 complete earlier than fallback to light-weight. | Instruments menu (+ icon by enter area) |
| Create Picture | Generates or edits pictures. | All customers. Paid tiers get increased month-to-month picture quotas. | Instruments menu (+ icon) |
| Agent Mode | Permits ChatGPT to browse websites, fill types, and use connectors. | Rolling out to Plus customers, capped at 20 runs per day. Full entry for Professional and Enterprise. | Instruments menu (+ icon) |
| Net Search | Retrieves reside net information and returns it with supply hyperlinks. | All customers. Free capped at 30 searches per day, paid tiers as much as 100 per day. | Instruments menu (+ icon) |
| Canvas | Opens a break up workspace for drafting or coding. | Plus and Professional customers solely. | Instruments menu (+ icon) |
| Research and Be taught | Converts chat right into a guided studying mode with quizzes. | Plus and Professional customers, capped at 50 research periods per thirty days. | Instruments menu (+ icon) > Research and Be taught |
As soon as you’ve got chosen a mannequin and even a mode or software in ChatGPT, it is time to lastly ask one thing. Simply kind your query or request into the textual content field (or use the mic and communicate).
Listed here are a number of tricks to get the perfect outcomes:
- Be particular: The extra particulars you give, the higher ChatGPT can reply. As an alternative of asking a broad query like “Inform me about rehoming canine,” attempt “What are the well being advantages of adopting a canine from a shelter?” or “How do Beagles and Huskies differ in train wants?”
- Use clear directions: If you need a particular format or fashion, say so. Ask for “5 birthday present concepts for a 5-year-old” as an alternative of simply “present concepts.” If you need a poem, say the kind — like “Write a rhyming poem concerning the French countryside.” Readability helps ChatGPT serve up what you need.
- Break down advanced requests: In case your query has a number of components, break up it up. Slightly than “How do I begin a enterprise, and what are the authorized necessities?”, ask “What are the primary steps to beginning a bar?” adopted by “What are the authorized necessities for registering one in NY?”
- Present context: Some background helps ChatGPT give higher solutions. Should you’re writing a letter, for instance, clarify the intent — comparable to “I need assistance writing a thank-you letter to a supervisor.” This context will assist ensure that the tone and construction match what you want.
- Observe up: If the response is not proper, hold fine-tuning it. Ask, “Are you able to clarify that in less complicated, clearer phrases?” or “Might you give extra examples?” Every follow-up helps ChatGPT modify and enhance.
Additionally: How researchers tricked ChatGPT into sharing sensitive email data
What can I do with ChatGPT?
You’ll be able to most likely inform by now that ChatGPT is way over a easy chatbot. It runs on the newest GPT-5 mannequin, has app integrations, and may do net searches and deep analysis and even full duties autonomously for you, and extra. I’ve lined the fashions and modes above, however here is a reminder of all of the core options (as of October 2025).
- Agent Mode (Paid customers): Within the Instruments menu, it lets ChatGPT carry out multi-step duties like opening websites, filling types, and producing information. I counsel you utilize it whenever you need ChatGPT to behave autonomously.
- Apps (Free and Paid customers within the US): You’ll be able to fetch apps by identify (for instance, “Canva, create me a presentation”), and the app will seems inline. At launch, apps embrace Canva, Reserving.com, Coursera, Figma, Spotify, and Zillow. You could find extra in Settings > Apps and Connectors.
- Canvas (Free and Paid customers): This provides you a break up workspace the place you and ChatGPT can co-edit textual content, code, or drafts collectively.
- Codex (Paid customers): Codex is ChatGPT’s coding assistant that helps you write, assessment, and debug code. It may analyze repositories, refactor scripts, and check code. It is obtainable from the sidebar.
- Create Image (Free and Paid customers): From Instruments, choose “Create Picture” to generate or edit pictures.
- Deep Research (Free and Paid customers): Within the Instruments menu, this mode lets ChatGPT crawl, learn, and summarize advanced matters into cited stories. Free customers can entry a light-weight model, whereas paid plans get full.
- GPTs / Custom Agents (Free and Paid customers): Browse or construct customized GPTs by way of the sidebar. These are specialised assistants with preset data, tone, and instruments. They’re useful for repetitive or particular duties.
- Library (Free and Paid customers): Discovered within the sidebar, the Library shops all of your generated pictures and information in a single place. Use it to simply discover and preview previous pictures with out having to comb by means of outdated chats.
- Personalization and Memory (Free and Paid customers): Go to Settings > Personalization to customise how ChatGPT addresses you, what particulars it remembers, and the way it writes.
- Projects (Free and Paid customers): Discovered within the sidebar, Tasks group associated chats, information, reminiscence, and directions into one workspace.
- Scheduling Tasks (Paid customers): Use the Duties function to schedule one-time or recurring actions, like each day summaries or weekly reminders. ChatGPT will robotically run the duty on schedule and notify you when it is accomplished by way of e mail and notifications.
- Shopping (Free and Paid customers within the US): Ask ChatGPT for a product to see outcomes with pictures, particulars, and typically a “Purchase” button. Launched in September 2025, it lets US customers take a look at in chat from supported retailers like Etsy.
- Study and Learn (Paid customers): Present in Instruments, this mode guides you thru classes, quizzes, and reasoning workout routines as an alternative of giving direct solutions, which is nice for studying new matters interactively.
- Voice (Standard and Advanced Voice Modes) (Free and Paid customers): Faucet the microphone in a chat to speak as an alternative of typing. Commonplace Voice is less complicated however being phased out, whereas Superior Voice gives extra pure, real-time dialog.
- Web Search (Free and Paid customers): Allow Net Search in Instruments to get reside data with supply hyperlinks. I discover it helpful for staying updated on present occasions or verifying information.
How a lot does ChatGPT price?
As of October 2025, ChatGPT gives the next shopper plans within the US. There’s additionally Enterprise and Enterprise pricing.
Additionally: ChatGPT Go is just $10 a month – here’s who gets it
Can I search the net with ChatGPT?
Sure. Simply activate Net Search in Instruments (+ subsequent to “Ask something” enter area) to tug up-to-date data instantly from the web.
Additionally: ChatGPT is reportedly scraping Google Search data to answer your questions – here’s how
Can I store with ChatGPT?
You should use ChatGPT for product analysis. Ask it to search out, for instance, the perfect humidifier obtainable — and specify any options or a worth vary. I like to make use of an internet search when doing this type of analysis.
Additionally: How people actually use ChatGPT vs Claude – and what the differences tell us
ChatGPT procuring was additionally introduced in September 2025, when OpenAI launched Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which permits US customers to purchase gadgets instantly in chat from Etsy sellers, with Shopify help coming. OpenAI additionally shaped a brand new partnership to carry Walmart and Sam’s Club products into ChatGPT by means of a “Purchase in Chat” possibility utilizing On the spot Checkout.
Can I make pictures with ChatGPT?
Sure. ChatGPT features a built-in picture generator that is powered by GPT-4o. It may take detailed prompts and produce reasonable pictures in minutes. You’ll be able to iterate on the outcomes to fine-tune them and even export with a clear background.
Additionally:Â ChatGPT’s new image generator shattered my expectations – and now it’s free to try
In comparison with DALL·E (one other picture mannequin in earlier variations), the brand new Create Picture software in ChatGPT is extra conversational and contextual, letting you make edits iteratively — and it handles rendering textual content effectively. Free customers are restricted in what number of pictures they’ll generate per day or in a rolling window (see OpenAI’s support page for present price limits).
Can I make movies with ChatGPT?
OpenAI lately launched a standalone video app, called Sora 2, which instantly shot to the highest of the app retailer after debuting. It allows you to flip textual content prompts into quick, reasonable video clips.Â
It is at the moment available by invite only.
Additionally:Â I tried the new Sora 2 to generate AI videos – and the results were pure sorcery
Can I exploit ChatGPT and not using a login?
Typically, sure. OpenAI helps restricted, no-login entry in lots of areas, so you may attempt ChatGPT immediately. Simply needless to say superior options, historical past/reminiscence, and better limits require an account.
Additionally: ChatGPT just saved me 25% off my dinner tonight – here’s how
Is ChatGPT correct?
It is good, particularly whenever you do an internet search or deep analysis, and you’ll see sources, however it’s not excellent. All the time fact-check essential data and ask for hyperlinks when attainable.
Additionally:Â ChatGPT speak is creeping into our everyday language – here’s why it matters
Need to study extra about ChatGPT?
Listed here are a few of ZDNET’s most useful guides on ChatGPT.
The best way to use ChatGPT for coding
The best way to use ChatGPT for work
The best way to use ChatGPT for college
Different suggestions, methods, and helpful bits
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