How the ChatGPT app has changed how I use my Mac

After a long wait, OpenAI ChatGPT app on macOS So that anyone can use it. I’ve been playing around with it to see how it works and what it’s good at, and so far I’m pretty impressed. All the power of ChatGPT is in a convenient desktop package. Even better, it costs nothing to download and works with a free OpenAI account, so you don’t have to pay any fees to use it (though the free account has usage limits, just like the web).

In my hands-on experience, I like three things about the new ChatGPT Mac app: From the way it launches to its great features, I think you’ll love these aspects of the app.

Launch it with a clever shortcut

If you’re an experienced Mac user, you can press Cmd+Spacebar Keyboard shortcuts This will open a Spotlight search bar where you can launch apps, search for files, look up definitions, and much more. OpenAI took a page from Spotlight for its ChatGPT app, making it similarly quick and easy to open.

For ChatGPT, you need to press Opt+Space, which launches a small Spotlight-like bar where you can type your query for OpenAI’s chatbot to process. It’s easy to learn and find on your keyboard, as it’s a familiar shortcut, and ChatGPT is just a few button presses away from being usable.

This is not just a text input field. It’s basically the full version of ChatGPT scaled down to a small bar. Selecting the paperclip icon allows you to upload files or photos for analysis, take screenshots of open apps, take photos using your webcam, or open a full ChatGPT window. All of this can be done from simple keyboard shortcuts, making it a very handy feature.

Understanding files and their contents

One of ChatGPT’s strengths is that it can also analyze information contained within files. The Mac app is no exception, making it a great tool for both work and leisure.

For example, you could upload a group of different sales reports and ask us to extract key trends. Or you could upload some assignments and ask us to categorize due dates into an easy-to-understand list. There’s no need to extract this information and paste it into ChatGPT, because the app can scan the file and find the data itself.

Being able to do this in a Mac app is important. First, it’s unlikely that you have documents like the one above on your iPhone. Also, when you’re working on your Mac, you often have multiple files and Finder windows open at once. In that case, you can just drag and drop files from Finder to ChatGPT instead of opening a new browser tab and uploading them there. The fact that ChatGPT can stay on top of other windows makes it even more convenient for this use case.

Great for working with images

One of the best features of the ChatGPT Mac app is the ability to manipulate screenshots. Select the paper clip icon,[スクリーンショットを撮る]When you select , you’ll see a list of open apps and windows. Select one and ChatGPT will automatically take a screenshot of the entire window and load it into the query box for you to type.

This has many uses: you can take a picture of the code you’re working on and ask ChatGPT to fix it. Or take a screenshot of an email reply to see if you can rewrite it in a more concise way. This is extremely useful when speed matters. No need to copy and paste text or switch apps – ChatGPT handles it all.

ChatGPT can use more than just screenshots. You can upload images from your Mac or photo library, webcam Take a new image. Want to come up with a menu for dinner? Just take a photo of the ingredients you have on hand and ChatGPT will suggest a recipe.

Again, this is a Mac, so it makes things easier. You can drag and drop images from the Photos app or Finder into ChatGPT. It couldn’t be easier on the iOS version. It makes manipulating your images a breeze.

More coming soon

The ChatGPT app for macOS can do a lot more than what we mentioned above: for example, if you have a microphone connected to your Mac, you can speak commands and queries to the chatbot, which might be easier than typing (though this requires opening a full app window rather than using the Opt+Space query bar), and of course, you can also type in standard text queries, which is what ChatGPT is all about.

OpenAI says:GPT-4o “New audio and video features” are coming “in the future,” with support for Windows planned. If you want to run it on a Mac, macOS 14 Sonoma or later and must have an Apple Silicon chip (M1 or above).

One thing I don’t like about the ChatGPT Mac app is that OpenAI uses your queries to train the chatbot, but you can’t turn it on by selecting the ChatGPT icon in the menu bar. Settings > Data Control When disabled Improving the model for everyone Optional. It also doesn’t have an offline mode, which is handy, as that’s a feature only a few third-party apps can offer.

Overall, the ChatGPT Mac app adds a lot of functionality to your workflow, whether you’re looking to increase your productivity or simply want to perform tasks on your computer a little faster. OpenAI websiteHowever, it’s not yet available on Apple’s App Store.