There are two types of ChatGPT enthusiasts : those who have unveiled the secrets and attempted to decipher the ridiculously mysterious workings of artificial intelligence , and those who are content with leveraging the benefits without having to think too hard. Those in the second group often refer to ChatGPT simply as GPT (and vice versa).
As it turns out, they are completely different. Calling ChatGPT "GPT" is like calling a Dell computer "Intel," referring to the processor that powers it. And while Dell relies on Intel, Intel can also power other computers.
Once you understand the difference, you'll start to realize you're not the only one making this mistake. So, read on to learn the difference between GPT and ChatGPT.
The difference between ChatGPT and GPT
Although both ChatGPT and GPT are built by the same research company, OpenAI, there is one important difference:
GPT is a family of AI models trained on terabytes of internet data , providing artificial intelligence (AI) applications with the ability to process text, audio, images, and video (depending on the specific model). It is one of the most powerful and widely used families of AI models available.
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that uses GPT models to interact with humans in a conversational way. It is optimized for dialogue by expert trainers and relies on GPT (and other OpenAI models) to generate convincing, human-like responses.
Returning to the example above: If we consider ChatGPT as a Dell computer, then GPT is the Intel processor that powers it. Ultimately, different computers running on Intel processors operate in a similar way to other AI applications, such as Writesonic and Jasper, which run on GPT.
What is GPT in ChatGPT?
GPT in ChatGPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which essentially describes what the AI model powering ChatGPT does and how it works.
ChatGPT is an application; GPT is the brain behind that application.
If you're still having trouble distinguishing them, think of it this way: ChatGPT is an application, while GPT is the brain behind that application.
ChatGPT is simply a chatbot – it's an application you can interact with through a web browser or using a desktop or mobile app. It relies on GPT to process text, audio, images, and video, but it's not an AI model in itself.
GPT is what powers that application—and many others. It has an API that allows anyone to access GPT to build their own AI applications with its functionalities; many of the AI applications you use every day are powered by GPT. GPT is currently one of the leading industry standards for AI modeling, along with other model families such as Gemini , Claude , and Llama.
ChatGPT Automation
With OpenAI's API, you can send requests directly to OpenAI models and receive responses directly within your software or platform of choice. But that's not the only way to integrate GPT and other OpenAI models into the applications you use.
So now you understand: ChatGPT is a chatbot application; GPT is what runs behind that application. Do you feel more comfortable knowing the difference between them? Hopefully, you're no longer confused.