What is ChatGPT?

If you have heard of AI over the last few years, ChatGPT is probably the name that comes to mind first. It is the tool that made millions of people realize AI had crossed a threshold — that it could hold a real conversation, write a full email, explain a complex topic, and help bring an idea to life faster than anything before it.

ChatGPT is made by a company called OpenAI, based in San Francisco. It launched publicly in late 2022 and became one of the fastest-growing technology products in history. You can use it for free at chat.openai.com. No special software required — just a browser and a free account.

At its core, ChatGPT is a conversational AI. You type something, it responds. But what makes it powerful is the range of things it can do inside that conversation. It can brainstorm ideas, draft content, summarize documents, answer questions, write code, create plans, and help you think through problems you have been stuck on for weeks. For a small business owner trying to get a concept out of your head and into something tangible, it is an incredibly capable starting point.

ChatGPT has become the household name in AI for good reason. It is approachable, fast, and surprisingly capable right out of the box. Most people who try it for the first time are struck by how natural the conversation feels and how quickly it produces useful output.

What you get on the free tier:

• Access to GPT-4o, one of the most capable AI models available
• Web browsing so the AI can reference current information
• Image generation powered by DALL-E
• File uploads so you can share documents and images in your conversation
• Voice mode for hands-free conversations on mobile
• The ability to use pre-built custom GPTs created by other users

The free tier has usage limits — during busy periods you may be nudged toward a paid plan — but for most people getting started, it is more than enough to do meaningful work.

ChatGPT is a great brainstorming and drafting partner. It will get you surprisingly far. When you hit its limits and you are ready to turn that concept into something real and live, that is where we come in.