How to download ChatGPT
ChatGPT’s official client isn’t available for download from the Russian App Store. To access the neural network comfortably, here are a few straightforward steps that work across regions.
The first step is to create an Apple ID tied to a country where ChatGPT is available. A practical choice is the United States. In the future you might need to switch regions again to access other apps not shown in the Russian Store, so having an extra account can be handy.
Before creating a new profile, sign out of the current Apple ID in device settings. Then open the App Store, search for ChatGPT, and tap Download. You’ll be prompted to create a new account.
Before downloading, verify the app developer — it should be OpenAI.
During registration, use a new email address (preferably a .com domain) and set the region to the United States. When asked for an address, you can use a service that generates random addresses. Registration itself does not require payment information since ChatGPT is free to download.
Register with ChatGPT
Access restrictions by OpenAI extend beyond the Russian App Store. A US IP address via a VPN is often needed to sign up. You may also need a US virtual SIM card to receive the SMS verification code, a service that ranges in price. Once VPN and the virtual number are ready, proceed with the signup.
The signup is straightforward: input an email address, create a password, provide a name, date of birth, and a phone number.
After successful registration, VPN can be turned off while using the service. If the profile is ever reopened later, you might need to reapply the US IP address to access again.
Once the setup completes, the free version of ChatGPT becomes usable, currently built on a GPT-3.5 backbone. A paid subscription at about $20 per month unlocks more features with up-to-date knowledge and GPT-4 capabilities.
Free GPT-4
There is no fee to use ChatGPT’s GPT-4 based features. For Android or iOS users, downloading the Bing app from Microsoft is an alternative that includes a GPT-4 powered chatbot.
Bing is easy to obtain and is available from the Russian App Store and Google Play. The caveat is that a VPN is often needed to access full functionality.
Before using, it may be necessary to adjust region settings in the Microsoft account profile. With a prepared account, enable the VPN, and navigate to Settings or follow a direct path to the country settings. Choose United States – English for the region and Russian for the language.
On the Bing homepage, a Chat tab appears. Opening it lets users access the chatbot powered by a GPT-4 backend for free.
The most suitable neural networks
ChatGPT remains popular, yet starting the sign-up process can be daunting for newcomers. Relying on a constant VPN for Bing might not suit everyone. If foreign accounts and VPNs aren’t appealing, Russian alternatives provide viable options without those restrictions.
At the end of April, Sber announced a multimodal neural network named GigaChat capable of answering questions, maintaining dialogue, handling complex queries, and generating images. It is currently in a testing phase, with access often shared to thousands of users through official channels. Following the GigaChat Telegram channel can help you join the invite list.
Once access is granted, GigaChat runs on both desktop and mobile web browsers.
Yandex introduced YandexGPT, integrated into the Alice voice assistant. To start, users can summon Alice on a phone, browser, smart speaker, or TV and issue a prompt like “Alice, let’s brainstorm.” The assistant will then generate ideas or text on various topics.
For caution, remember that neural networks can produce hallucinations. If the information is intended for business or education, verify details from reliable sources before acting on them.