ChatGPT continues to astonish us with its remarkable capabilities to generate texts, retrieve information, write computer codes, and even perform basic computations. So far, there hasn’t been any other AI tool operating at the same level as ChatGPT. Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence, it keeps evolving to be more and more useful for consumers. Adding more functionality to its chatbot, the company recently introduced plugins, among which ChatGPT Code Interpreter has been creating quite a buzz.
Join me as we explore ChatGPT Code Interpreter and find out how it can enhance the overall functionality of the chatbot. I’ll also provide you with a concise guide on how to make the most of this exciting feature.
What is ChatGPT Code Interpreter OpenAI?
Before we jump to the main topic, it’s crucial to understand where the ChatGPT Code Interpreter belongs to.
In April 2023, OpenAI introduced Plugins to ChatGPT, which enable the model to perform specific tasks, generate code for particular programming languages, answer domain-specific queries, or interact with specific APIs to fetch relevant information. On July 6th, two more plugins were added to the arsenal – Web Browsing and Code Interpreter. However, for privacy and safety reasons, the Web Browsing plugin was removed from the store.
The Code Interpreter allows users to execute Python code in a real-time working environment. Usually, ChatGPT interacts and generates answers using the Large Language Model technique. However, with Code Interpreter activated, it can do much more than writing essays and generating on-demand texts.
Code Interpreter is a Sandboxed Python environment where ChatGPT can write and execute Python code to provide answers. Don’t get deceived by the name, as this feature is equally useful to both programmers and common users. With the introduction of Code Interpreter, the chatbot can perform the tasks it couldn’t before, such as generating charts and graphs based on a huge data set, performing complex calculations, deep data analysis, and much more.
To use this feature, you must be a ChatGPT Plus user. However, keep in mind that the ChatGPT code interpreter is still in Beta and might not be 100% accurate with its results or may behave unexpectedly.
Who Can Access Code Interpreter in ChatGPT?
Unfortunately, the code interpreter is not accessible in the free version of ChatGPT, mainly because it relies on the GPT-4 model, which is only available for Plus users.
So, to use the ChatGPT Code Interpreter, you must subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, which comes at a monthly cost of $20. Once you become a member, you can switch to GPT-4 and enable the Code Interpreter feature. Further details on this process will be covered later in the article.
OpenAI has started rolling out this feature to all ChatGPT’s paid users, so if you haven’t already received it, there’s a good chance you’ll gain access to it in the upcoming weeks. To check its availability, you can go to Account Settings and look under Beta features.
How Does ChatGPT Code Interpreter Work?
As mentioned earlier, the Code Interpreter operates Python code to execute tasks within the ChatGPT interface. For instance, if you request it to retrieve specific information from a PDF file, all you have to do is upload the PDF, and the interpreter handles the rest. It promptly generates a custom Python script on the spot and executes it seamlessly.
Although there is no official limit as to how big the upload file can be, we believe the threshold to be around 500MB. In our test, we successfully uploaded a 220MB file without any issues. It’s important to note that all uploaded files are permanently discarded once the chat session ends and cannot be recovered.
Additionally, you have the option to make further modifications to the code or let ChatGPT offer its adjustments and suggestions. Essentially, Code Interpreter grants you access to the entire computer system within the chatbot, where you can perform any task with the help of personal files and natural language.
What are the Advantages of Using ChatGPT Code Interpreter?
One of the most powerful additions to the ChatGPT to date, Code Interpreter dramatically enhances the functionality of the chatbot. Here are some benefits of using it:
1. Reduce Inaccuracies
ChatGPT code interpreter can significantly mitigate the errors and inaccuracies that we usually find in responses from Large Language Models (GPT-3, GPT 3.5). By running the code simultaneously in the background, the chatbot can generate more precise and factually correct responses. The difference is evident when dealing with aptitude and reasoning-related queries.
2. Upload Files
Code Interpreter allows you to upload files through temporary disk space, a feature not found in the regular ChatGPT. Thanks to this, you can finally use ChatGPT to read custom data and ask it to perform tasks based on it. It supports an extensive range of file formats, including popular ones like TXT, PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, PNG, MP4, AVI, CSV, and much more.
This is particularly useful for data analysts who deal with large volumes of data daily and sift through thousands of records to compile reports. With this tool, they can simply upload their files and instruct the AI to perform the necessary tasks, streamlining their workflow significantly.
3. Complex Tasks
The Code Interpreter allows you to perform complex tasks that are beyond the scope of ChatGPT or other conventional chatbots, for that matter. Apart from basic text generation, it can address queries where logical reasoning is required. For instance, you can prompt it to solve complex mathematical problems, carry out data analysis and visualization from a provided dataset, and generate graphs and charts for assessment purposes.
Furthermore, Code Interpreter can accomplish diverse tasks such as converting a PDF file using OCR, transforming a static image into an animated one, editing video files by trimming or expanding them, and even changing their formats, among other functionalities.
How to Access Code Interpreter OpenAI?
To use the ChatGPT Code interpreter plugin, you must be a Plus user. In case you are not, here are the steps you must take to use the interpreter:
- Open your browser and go to https://chat.openai.com/auth/login.
- Log in and click on the Upgrade to Plus option, located on the left-bottom of the screen.
- Once you are subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, click on the three-dot icon and select Settings from the menu.
- Click on Beta features and Toggle on Code Interpreter.
ChatGPT Code Interpreter plugin is ready to use.
How to Use Code Interpreter in ChatGPT?
Now you are ready to converse with Chatbot using Code Interpreter. Here are the simple steps you need to take:
- Click on New Chat and Select GPT-4 language model.
- Once again, click on GPT-4 and select Code Interpreter Beta from the drop-down menu.
Instantly, you will see a + icon appear on the left side of the input text box. You can click on it and start uploading files and instruct the chatbot to perform the required task.
Here are some ChatGPT Code Interpreter examples:
1. Make the PDF searchable through OCR
All We had to do was upload the PDF file and write the command in English.
Here are the results:
2. Change An audio file format
Again, I asked Code Interpreter to convert an audio file to AAC.
Although it took two attempts, it worked just fine.
3. Data Visualization
Lastly, we gave the interpreter a CSV file to analyze the data and asked it to present a visualization.
Here are the results:
FAQs
1. Why is the ChatGPT code interpreter not available?
OpenAI is still in the process of releasing the Code interpreter worldwide. I suggest you be patient and keep checking if it’s available in your region or not. Make sure you are subscribed to ChatGPT Plus.
2. Is ChatGPT code interpreter free?
No. The code interpreter is exclusive to ChatGPT Plus members and not available to free users.
3. How much does Code Interpreter ChatGPT Plus cost?
You must be a ChatGPT Plus member to be able to use code interpreters. It will cost you $20/month.
4. Do I have to join the ChatGPT code interpreter waitlist?
No, there is no ChatGPT waitlist, as the program is already in beta. All you have to do is wait until it’s available in your country.
5. How can I get Get code interpreter access?
To get ChatGPT code interpreter access, you need to purchase a ChatGPT Plus subscription for $20/month.
Final Word
The Code Interpreter finally brings us the functionalities we’ve been missing with ChatGPT. Finally, we can bring in external files and perform modifications, analysis, computations, and visualizations using Artificial Intelligence. Although it can be considered an important breakthrough in AI progress, the true potential of the tool is yet to be discovered.
However, my biggest disappointment is that the interpreter almost failed to extract any information from the images, such as image content, colors, scenes, etc. Currently, it strongly relies on text-based information, but we hope to see OpenAI address this limitation and make improvements in the future.
