About ChatGPT's Release Strategy

Since its launch, ChatGPT has been highly popular, and its release events have overshadowed those of Apple. Everyone is now keenly following each new feature announcement from ChatGPT/OpenAI.

We often see some people getting access to new features while others do not. So, what is the release strategy like? Here, I’ll summarize what I know.

OpenAI Update Events

New features of OpenAI/ChatGPT are often announced through update events, such as the new voice mode and GPTs. At these times, we can usually only see their demo or videos on Twitter or other media platforms.

It must be said that this feeling is quite unpleasant. All we can do is wait and wait.

Alpha Access

The first stage of the release is a limited rollout to Plus users with Alpha access.

Currently, no channel exist, such as form apply to obtain Alpha access. It is entirely controlled by OpenAI, potentially given to partners or randomly lucky ChatGPT users.

OpenAI collects usage feedback from Alpha users to improve features and decide whether to move to the next phase.

This phase may last about a month.

Plus Users

After the Alpha phase ends, it moves to a limited rollout for Plus users, usually lasting a few weeks—for example, the previous background voice feature and GPTs feature.

Free Users

When OpenAI decides that the new feature is suitable for free users, it will rolling out to free users, usually lasting a few weeks. The features may not be entirely the same as those enjoyed by Plus users, such as the data analysis v2 feature.

At the end

This is the process OpenAI follows when releasing new features.

If you have Alpha access, congratulations.

If you are a Plus user, you can enjoy these new features first, but you still have to wait a long time. For example, the new voice mode has been announced for several months, but Plus users still do not have access.

Here, I just hope OpenAI stops announcing new features before they are publicly available, as waiting for months is frustrating.