Why does ChatGPT need a phone number?

You can't sign in to ChatGPT without phone verification

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Have you encountered the mobile verification requirement when signing up for OpenAI’s language model, ChatGPT? If so, you might be curious about the reason behind this phone number requirement. During the account creation process, OpenAI requires two verification steps: email and SMS.

However, some users residing in countries where ChatGPT is unavailable have encountered challenges with the SMS verification step. Despite this, providing a phone number is still a mandatory part of the process. This aspect of the verification process can be frustrating and unexpected, leaving you feeling stuck and prompting the question: why does ChatGPT specifically ask for a phone number?

Why does OpenAI need your phone number?

OpenAI’s ChatGPT employs a two-step verification process that involves email and phone number verification. While this may appear inconvenient, it serves as a necessary security measure to ensure genuine users are utilizing the platform and to prevent misuse.

OpenAI has faced criticism regarding the requirement of a mobile number, as some users perceive it as an invasion of privacy. However, OpenAI has explicitly stated in their FAQs that they do not sell user data or share content for marketing purposes.

The primary purpose of requesting a phone number is to establish a secondary verification step, which is a common practice in online services today. Furthermore, providing a phone number adds an additional layer of security to your account, which can benefit users.

In addition to deterring spammers from creating multiple accounts, ChatGPT may utilize your phone number as a recovery method for your OpenAI account. In the event that you forget your password, OpenAI can send recovery instructions via SMS to your registered phone number. This information can be used to reset your account password and regain access to the service.

ChatGPT alternatives that do not require phone verification

There are some great chatbot alternatives to choose from which do not require phone verification, so if you’re having problems you could always try out one of the following.

• Chatsonic – One of the best ChatGPT alternatives out there right now Chatsonic is a great chatbot which does not require phone verification. The software is built upon GPT-4 and is intergrated with google so unlike ChatGPT it is able to give you results on the newest information. Chatsonic is also able to generate images, something else ChatGPT can’t do.
• Bing AI – Bing AI is another great alternative to ChatGPT which you can access without the need for phone verification. Also based upon OpenAI’s Large Language Model, Bing AI is focused on being fast and accurate in its responses. Like Chatsonic, it is also capable of real time responses based on internet results.

If you’re having trouble with phone verification on ChatGPT you might well want to check out one of these great alternatives. In some ways they are even more capable that ChatGPT itself and they are also free.

Can you skip the ChatGPT phone verification?

At present, providing a phone number is a mandatory requirement for using ChatGPT. It is worth noting that as ChatGPT expands its availability to different regions, there may be changes to the phone number verification requirement in the future.

For the time being, in order to proceed with the registration process, a valid phone number from a location where ChatGPT is accessible is necessary. Without completing the phone number verification, access to ChatGPT will not be granted.

Using ChatGPT if you don’t have a phone

So we’ve established that really you need a phone number to be able to access ChatGPT but here are a couple of things you could try if you’re desperate:

• Use WhatsApp to verify your account: In some countries you can verify your account with WhatsApp so if your phones out of action this is a great option. Use the “Do you have WhatsApp?” option when you regester for your account.
• Use an online SMS service: Some online SMS services purport to use they use real numbers which may be able to avoid being detected by ChatGPT. If you check around you might bew able to find a service that works, but nothing is garenteed.
• Use an alternative chatbot: Chat GPT is by no means the only AI chatbot available to use right now and software such as Bing AI and Google Bard do not require phone verification.

If you’re worried about the preivacy of you personal details then have a read of ChatGPT’s privacy policy. OpenAI state that they do not share your personal information so this may help to set your mind at ease.

Is it safe to give ChatGPT your phone number?

It is quite understandable some are apprehensive about handing over a phone number, no one wants third-party sales calls after all. There is no need to worry, OpenAI looks after your data like any other that collects it. The number is only required for verification and will not be used for anything other than what is stated in its privacy agreement.

Final word

ChatGPT is a highly sophisticated Chatbot that is committed to ensuring that its services are not misused. It has experienced some outage issues on a couple of occasions, which may be one of the reasons why it has become more strict with its policies for new users.

ChatGPT now requires additional layers of security before granting access to new joiners. Therefore, users are asked to provide a phone number during the sign-up process to verify their legitimacy as genuine users.

What is a premium phone number and why isn’t it valid?

If you see this error message it is in relation to using a VOIP number or app based phone numbers.

Can I use ChatGPT without a phone number?

ChatGPT use s a two-step verification process, which requires a valid phone number and an email address.