Popular artificial intelligence-based chatbot
ChatGPT
maker
OpenAI
is reportedly testing a new feature for
Android
users. According to a post shared by Android expert Mishaal Rahman on micro-blogging site X (previously Twitter), the Microsoft-backed AI startup is testing a
ChatGPT widget
for Android home screen with a handful of users. The post also claims that the feature is currently in beta testing and can be found on the ChatGPT for Android app version 1.2024.052.
We at TOI, looked for the update in
Google Play Store
but couldn’t find this version of the app.
This suggests that the feature is not available for all users, except a few beta testers.
ChatGPT widget for Android home screens: How it may work
As per the Threads post, the
ChatGPT widget on Android
will offer quicker access to OpenAI’s chatbot’s conversation and query modes.
Users, for whom this feature is available can try it out on their devices. To access the feature, tap and hold a blank spot on your Android phone’s home screen to bring up the widget menu. From here, select the ChatGPT widget (when available) to add it to the home screen of the Android device.
The X post also mentions that the widget will also offer users shortcuts to send a text, image or voice query and even start the conversation mode.
How ChatGPT widget on Android may help OpenAI
This feature is expected to offer Android users more convenience as ChatGPT faces cut-throat competition from its rival Google
Gemini
. Google has already started rolling out an app for its own AI chatbot. The company may also replace the Google Assistant on Android devices with Gemini.
Earlier this month, the Sam Altman-led company showcased a new tool that can instantly make short videos in response to written commands. This new text-to-video generator from OpenAI is named
Sora
and is expected to be available for all users in the coming days.
It's important to note that Google and Meta have already demonstrated similar technology in the past, yet, videos generated by OpenAI’s model seemed to offer upgraded quality.