I ’ve been playing around with theChatGPT app on macOSto see how it act upon and what it ’s effective at , and I ’ve come off pretty impressed so far . It ’s pay back all the big businessman ofChatGPTin a ready to hand desktop software program . well yet , you do n’t need to pay to use it , as there ’s no cost to download it , and it works with a free OpenAI story ( free accounts do have limits send on their usage , though , as they do on the web ) .

After seeing what I can get out of it , I ’ve found there are three thing I really screw about the newfangled ChatGPT Mac app . From the elbow room it launch to its telling capabilities , I think you ’ll love these aspects of the app as well .

It launches with a clever shortcut

Seasoned Mac user will know that urge on theCmd+Spacekeyboard shortcutopens up the Spotlight search bar , let you found an app , find a file , look up a definition , and a whole caboodle more . OpenAI has taken its cue from Spotlight when it comes to the ChatGPT app , as it opens in a likewise immediate and elementary fashion .

In ChatGPT ’s case , you need to press Opt+Space . This launches a small Spotlight - like bar that you may typecast any query into for OpenAI ’s chatbot to tackle . Its familiarity as a shortcut makes it well-to-do to learn and simple to find on your keyboard , ensure ChatGPT is just a twosome of clit presses away .

And it ’s more than just a simple text - entry field — it ’s essentially the full variation of ChatGPT shrivel down into a small bar . If you select the gem clip ikon , you’re able to upload a file or photo for analysis , take a screenshot of an open app , take a picture using your webcam , or unfold the full ChatGPT window . All that from a warm keyboard shortcut makes it a really handy feature .

It understands files and their contents

One of ChatGPT ’s core strengths is take apart information , even if it ’s contained within file cabinet . For example , you canupload PDFs to ChatGPTfor analysis . The Mac app is no unlike , and this makes it an excellent prick to help you with study and leisure likewise .

For instance , you could upload a grouping of different sales reports and involve it to pull out of import drift . Or upload several assignments and request that it sorts the deadlines into an easily digestible leaning . You do n’t need to pull out this information and paste it into ChatGPT , as the app can scan through your single file and find oneself the data itself .

The fact that you may do this on your Mac app is important . You ’re less likely to have documents like the above on your iPhone , for one thing . I also tend to find that I ’ll have several data file and Finder window open at any one time when working on my Mac ; when that happen , I can just draw and drop my files from the Finder right into ChatGPT , without get to open up a unexampled web internet browser check and upload them there . you could keep ChatGPT on top of other windows , which helps this use case even more .

It’s great at working with images

One of the neatest features of the ChatGPT Mac app is its ability to work with screenshots . choose the gem clip icon and pickTake Screenshot , and you ’ll see a list of open apps and windows . Choose one and ChatGPT will mechanically screenshot the entire windowpane and dilute it into the query boxwood , ready for your stimulant .

This has all sort of uses . you’re able to catch an effigy of computer code you ’re do work on and ask ChatGPT to fix it up for you . Or screenshot an email response and see if it can rewrite it in a more concise style . It ’s really utilitarian for when speed is important — there ’s no need to imitate and glue any text or even switch over apps , as ChatGPT handle it all for you .

Screenshots are n’t the only ikon that ChatGPT run with . you’re able to alsoupload images to ChatGPTfrom your Mac or your Photos library , or employ yourwebcamto photograph a new ikon . Want to lift up a meal idea for dinner ? Grab a photo of the ingredients you ’ve bugger off to reach and ChatGPT will intimate a formula .

Again , things get easier because it ’s on the Mac . you could tangle and drop ikon properly out of the Photos app or the Finder and into ChatGPT , something that would n’t be anywhere virtually as simple in the iOS version . It realize working with images a cinch .

More coming soon

The ChatGPT app for macOS can do a lot more than the thing I ’ve mentioned above . If you ’ve connected a microphone to your Mac , for instance , you’re able to talk commands and queries to the chatbot , which you might find easy than type ( you need to launch the full app window for this , rather than using the Opt+Space interrogation prevention ) . And , of form , you could enter the standard schoolbook queries that are bread and butter for ChatGPT .

OpenAI says that “ GPT-4o’snew audio and video capabilities ” are “ coming in the future , ” as is Windows support . If you desire to run it on your Mac , you should have the latestmacOS updateinstalled ( but it will campaign onmacOS 14 Sonomaor later ) and have an Apple Silicon chipping ( M1 or good ) .

One of the few things I do n’t like about the ChatGPT Mac app is that OpenAI uses your query to direct its chatbot , but you could turn this off by selecting the ChatGPT icon in your menu measure and going toSettings > Data Controlsand disabling theImprove the exemplar for everyoneoption . There ’s also no offline modality , which would be ready to hand . It ’s something that a smattering of third - party apps can extend .

Overall , though , the ChatGPT Mac app impart a lot to your workflow , whether you desire to boost your productivity or merely do tasks on your electronic computer a little quick . It ’s usable on theOpenAI internet site , but is n’t yet in Apple ’s App Store .