Since its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT has become very popular because of its versatility. You can use the OpenAI chatbot in various ways, from simple tasks like writing emails to complex tasks like generating Python code for controlling a mobile robot and retrieving data. However, despite its many uses, ChatGPT may not have all the functionalities you need. That’s where ChatGPT plugins come in.
Developed by third parties, plugins are downloadable tools that enhance the functionality of ChatGPT. They not only improve the user experience but also expand the use cases of the chatbot. There are already hundreds of ChatGPT plugins available, including Instacart, Expedia, and OpenTable. If you want to improve your conversations with ChatGPT, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to download and use ChatGPT plugins.
How to download ChatGPT Plugins
To download and use ChatGPT plugins, you need to upgrade your account to ChatGPT Plus. If you’re already a Plus user, follow these steps to start downloading plugins:
- Open Settings by clicking on the three horizontal dots next to your profile at the bottom-left corner of the screen and selecting Settings.
- Go to Beta features.
- Turn on Plugins to enable the plugin store.
- Return to the homepage and select New chat.
- Choose GPT-4 from the options at the top.
- Select Plugins.
- Click on “No plugins enabled.”
- Open the Plugin store.
- Click on OK on the “About plugins” popup.
- Find the plugin you want to use. Type the plugin name in the search box or scroll manually through the Popular, New, and All tabs. If you’re unsure what ChatGPT plugin you want to download, here are a few of the must-try ones:
- ChatWithPDF: Lets you interact with PDFs to get instant answers without reading the entire document.
- PlaylistAI: Generates a Spotify playlist based on your specifications.
- Make A Sheet: Creates a downloadable CSV file that you can import to Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
- Coursera: Provides a list of course recommendations with links to specific courses on Coursera.
- Amazon Gift Chooser: Gives you a list of gift suggestions with Amazon links.
- SEO: Offers SEO analysis based on a URL and keyword.
- Once you find the plugin you want, click on Install to download it.
How to use ChatGPT Plugins
Before using a plugin, you need to enable it. Here’s how:
- After downloading your desired plugin, click on the plugin icon at the top of a New Chat page to open your list of plugins.
- Check the box next to the plugin you want to use in your conversation. You can enable up to three at a time.
- Once done, the plugin is ready for use.
ChatGPT plugins offer different functionalities, so their usage varies. Some plugins are intuitive and require no tutorials. For example, the Coursera plugin allows you to receive course recommendations by simply providing a prompt like “Give me beginner-friendly course recommendations for Canva,” and ChatGPT will use the Coursera plugin to generate a list of suggestions.
Other plugins may require extra input beyond the prompt itself. For instance, the ChatWithPDF plugin needs a link to a publicly accessible PDF file, and the SEO plugin requires a URL and keyword. Once you have the additional inputs, you can include them in your prompt. For ChatWithPDF, your prompt could be something like “Give me a bullet list of the key insights in this report: [link to your PDF].”
If you’re unsure how to use a specific ChatGPT plugin, you can visit whatplugin.ai for information on the plugin’s functionality and usage instructions.