In order to use ChatGPT, you must have a phone number

Photo Credit: Business Insider Starting up on ChatGPT is quite easy. You may sign up for free and sign in with your Google or Microsoft account and your personal email address. But as you might have seen, ChatGPT also requests your phone number. This raises the question of why ChatGPT needs your number in the first place, given all the worries about how safe it is to use.

How come ChatGPT demands a phone number?

ChatGPT legitimately requires some valid identification, just as many other online services. To verify, you must first click the link in your email, which is the first method of communication. Your name and birthdate are then required, after which a phone number is requested. Photo Credit: The Guardian Two-factor authentication is what it is known as, and it is popular these days, especially given how simple it is to just create a temporary email address. Remember that the phone number doesn't have to be unique; multiple email addresses can be linked to a single phone number. I've tried creating two email addresses with a single phone number, and I was successful. OpenAI might be using phone numbers to restrict account creation. In this instance, requesting a phone number essentially serves the purpose of confirming your identity and the difficulty of hacking your account. It should be noted that ChatGPT doesn't demand two-factor authentication every time you log in.

Can you trust ChatGPT with your phone number?

You might feel hesitant about disclosing your phone number or other personal information to ChatGPT. As a result of privacy issues raised by the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe, the service has been outlawed in Italy. Also Read: Snapchat will launch a ‘My AI’ chatbot powered by ChatGPT, for plus subscriber Yet providing your phone number or other personal information to OpenAI has nothing to do with those privacy worries. The temporary ban in Italy is primarily related to the method used to train the huge language model, which includes gathering enormous amounts of data. Regulars in Italy assert that the collection is not authorized by law. They also voiced concern over the absence of age verification during ChatGPT registration. In terms of the sign-up process, the phone numbers are solely necessary for "security reasons," and OpenAI promises in its privacy agreements that it will not utilize your personal information in any other way. But, I would never divulge any private information about you to ChatGPT in a chat. Even if you erase a message from your chat history, it is still preserved in ChatGPT. Because of this, OpenAI expressly advises against providing the chatbot with personal information.

Photo Credit: Mashable

Is a phone number required to utilize ChatGPT?

Unluckily, no. You must have an active mobile number to authenticate your account because ChatGPT does not allow VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) numbers. Using an app like Dingtone constitutes the sole exemption to this regulation. In order to create a virtual phone number that may be used for accounts like ChatGPT, the mobile app provides instructions on how to do so. Also Read: Italy has outlawed ChatGPT because of privacy issues According to rumors, the phone number verification prevents you from continuing with your account if you try to access ChatGPT in a nation where it isn't available. Naturally, a VPN can help you circumvent the location restrictions, but the VPN won't function without an active phone number. If your phone number verification isn't working for any reason, we advise contacting OpenAI's support staff for assistance.