OpenAI has finally launched a version of its ChatGPT app for Windows. The beta release comes five months after the beta version for macOS first appeared. The new app is similar to the Mac version and almost indistinguishable from the web interface.

AI companies are increasingly moving away from the web and building independent apps for both mobile and desktop. Recently, Anthropic released its first iPad app for Claude and is reportedly working on a version for macOS.

The new ChatGPT app for Windows is currently only available to customers who pay at least $20 per month to access the service. This includes users of the Teams, Plus, and Enterprise plans. Based on the evidence to date, it is likely that it will be available to all users in the coming months.

Fortunately, the Windows version includes the most useful feature of the macOS version, the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut to trigger Spotlight-like mini-windows.

Unlike the web and mobile versions, the desktop release of ChatGPT is designed to fit quickly into the normal workflow on a computer. For example, one can hold down Alt+Space to quickly open the chat interface and ask the AI a question.

One feature that was not carried over from the macOS version is the ability to quickly take a screenshot and send it to ChatGPT. This is especially useful to get quick feedback on what you find online, or advice on code or design ideas. You can even use it in games to get advice on what to do next. In the future, we would like to see Windows support this feature.

The main reason we switched to a native app instead of a web version is for what comes next. Soon, the desktop version will be released with access to Advanced Voice, allowing you to continue talking to the AI while you are working on other tasks.

It also looks like in the not-too-distant future the screenshot feature will be extended to screen recording, allowing you to continue a conversation with Advanced Voice while watching what you are doing on the screen in real time. This could allow you to get in the game and provide live feedback during the call.

If you have a paid ChatGPT account, you can get ChatGPT for Windows from the Microsoft Store or by clicking the download link from the OpenAI website.

There are currently versions for iPhone, Android, macOS, and Windows. In most cases, if you are not paying for ChatGPT, visit the ChatGPT website.