OpenAI has begun testing a streamlined signup process for ChatGPT that allows new users in the United States and India to create accounts using only their phone numbers, eliminating the requirement for an email address. The authentication change follows the company’s broader trend toward expanding accessibility, similar to its recent adoption of passwordless authentication methods across its services.
The phone number-only registration option comes with specific limitations. Users who create accounts through this method cannot access paid subscription tiers like ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro without adding and verifying an email address. Additionally, these accounts cannot use multi-factor authentication features, which remain tied to email verification – a notable contrast to the industry’s growing embrace of diverse authentication methods, including biometric and multi-factor solutions.
A notable technical constraint of the system involves phone number reuse. Once a phone number has been associated with a ChatGPT account, it cannot be used to create additional accounts. The company has acknowledged that recycled or reused phone numbers can trigger errors in the system, with no immediate solution available. OpenAI indicates that this limitation may be addressed in a system update planned for 2025. The challenge mirrors similar issues faced by other digital identity platforms, particularly in regions like India where phone number verification has become increasingly crucial for digital services.
The initiative represents part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand ChatGPT’s accessibility. The company has recently implemented other features to broaden its user base, including a free 15-minute monthly phone chat service for U.S. users and WhatsApp integration with limited functionality. These developments come as OpenAI, despite serving over 300 million weekly users, faces financial challenges, having reported approximately $5 billion in losses for fiscal year 2024.
The company is exploring various revenue optimization strategies, including potential subscription price adjustments and usage-based pricing models. The phone number signup feature is currently restricted to the U.S. and India markets, with no announced plans for expansion to other regions. The targeted rollout reflects a careful approach to market expansion, particularly in regions with established digital identity infrastructures and robust mobile authentication frameworks.
Sources: TechCrunch, TechCrunch, Daily.dev
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