ChatGPT 4 Review: A More Intelligent AI Chatbot, but at a Price

ChatGPT 4 Review: A Smarter AI Chatbot, But Is It Worth the Cost?

The paid version of ChatGPT is undeniably more intelligent than its free counterpart, but its $20 subscription fee might be too steep for the average user. This review was written before the announcement of GPT-4o, which is set to enhance both free and paid versions of ChatGPT. While CNET stands by the conclusions drawn from our testing, we will continue to update our coverage as new updates become available.

Basic Details:

• Price: $20 per month
• Availability: Web or mobile app
• Features: Voice recognition, memory retention, multiple GPTs to choose from
• Image Generation: Yes

I initially questioned whether upgrading to ChatGPT 4 for $20 was worth it, especially when Microsoft Copilot offers free access to OpenAI’s faster and more efficient GPT-4 Turbo. However, I found that even though both products use similar versions of GPT-4, they don’t deliver the same experience.

ChatGPT 4, OpenAI’s most advanced publicly available model, shows significant improvements over the free ChatGPT 3.5. OpenAI claims that it boasts better comprehension and creates more nuanced answers with less bias. After testing, I found that ChatGPT 4 indeed takes answers from basic summaries to a more scholarly level. While it may take longer to generate responses, the wait is often worth it. Its ability to manage complex topics and provide thoughtful answers surpasses the GPT-4 Turbo used in Microsoft Copilot, which prioritizes speed and efficiency.

However, ChatGPT 4 still faces the same limitation as its free counterpart: no internet access. Despite having more recent training data (up to August 2023 versus September 2021 for ChatGPT 3.5), it cannot answer real-time questions about current events. For instance, when comparing the latest Samsung and Apple phones, ChatGPT 4 can only speculate on which is better rather than provide definitive, up-to-date recommendations.

Despite this, ChatGPT 4 is clearly smarter than its free version. For those who seek more accurate, detailed responses or need help with complex topics, the $20 upgrade is well worth considering.

How CNET Tests AI Chatbots

CNET approaches AI chatbot reviews with practical scenarios, such as finding recipes, researching travel, and drafting emails, to simulate everyday use. We aim to see if AI chatbots can handle common questions and provide useful, accurate answers. With more advanced models, the questions evolve into more complex, multi-layered topics. See our AI testing guide for more details. Keep in mind that ChatGPT collects the data you input, so avoid sharing personal information. Refer to OpenAI’s privacy policy for further information.

Shopping

ChatGPT 4 excels at providing shopping recommendations, as long as the items were released before August 2023. For newer products like the iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24, it can only offer cautious predictions, using words like “might” or “should.” For example, when asked about the LG OLED G3 and G4, ChatGPT 4 speculated about potential upgrades, even though the G4 is already available.

For general product research, ChatGPT 4 is useful, especially when cross-referencing multiple data points. When I asked it for advice on choosing an uninterrupted power supply for my gaming setup, it provided thoughtful, reliable recommendations. However, for the most up-to-date recommendations, other AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, or Perplexity, which can access the internet, may be more reliable.

Recipes

ChatGPT 4 can generate recipes, but it doesn’t always get them perfect. While it gave a decent basic recipe for chicken tikka masala, it missed some unique ingredients like kasuri methi and amchur. These aren’t essential, but they could have been included as optional ingredients.

When tasked with creating fusion recipes, like a Thai-inspired tres leches cake, ChatGPT 4 delivered with creative flair, blending coconut milk, lemongrass, and chili peppers. While it’s not always the best at creating traditional recipes, ChatGPT 4 excels when combining ingredients from various culinary traditions.

Summarizing Articles

Free AI chatbots often struggle with summarizing articles accurately, focusing on broad ideas rather than core insights. When I asked ChatGPT 4 to summarize an article about AI at CES 2024, it delivered a much more comprehensive analysis, taking into account the expert opinions and critiques I included. ChatGPT 4 was able to go beyond surface-level details, providing a deeper understanding of the topic. Plus, unlike the free version, there was no character limit when I pasted my article into the chatbot.

Travel

When it comes to travel, ChatGPT 4 generally gives reliable advice. For example, when I asked it to create a travel itinerary for Columbus, Ohio, its recommendations were solid, including great restaurant options and attractions like the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

However, it’s not perfect. For instance, when I asked it to suggest cafes in Bushwick, New York, it mistakenly recommended places in Greenpoint, which, while not far, isn’t considered part of Bushwick. Still, for most travel inquiries, ChatGPT 4 provides valuable suggestions.

Super Synthesis

Paid AI chatbots like ChatGPT 4 are expected to offer more than just simple responses—they should be able to handle complex, multi-faceted questions. For this test, I asked ChatGPT 4 a dense philosophy question, drawing from theories across different time periods. It responded with remarkable insight, breaking the question down, referencing relevant philosophies, and synthesizing all the information into a coherent answer. This level of reasoning shows how the increase in parameters allows ChatGPT 4 to think more like a human.

Conclusion

ChatGPT 4 stands out as a smarter, more capable AI chatbot compared to its free counterpart. Its responses are more thoughtful, and it can synthesize complex information into valuable insights. While it does take longer to generate responses, the results are often worth the wait.

Is the $20 monthly subscription worth it? It depends on your needs. If you’re simply writing emails or asking basic questions, the free version will likely suffice. However, if you need more specialized answers or complex reasoning, ChatGPT 4 is well worth the investment. It delivers a higher level of performance when it comes to detailed, in-depth questions, making it an excellent tool for more advanced users.