Why You Should Avoid ChatGPT Apps on the Mac App Store
If you're looking to use ChatGPT on your Mac, you must stay away from the Mac App Store. Despite Apple's claim that the Mac App Store is one of the safest ways to download and install apps, it's not guaranteed to be safe anymore. Recent reports suggest that many ChatGPT apps available in the Mac App store are fraudulent, buggy, and shady. Developers are flooding the store with these apps to scam users.
Many of these apps are blocked by a paywall, do not work, or show in-app purchase pop-ups on the screen. It's clear that these apps are part of a scam network that wants to capitalize on the increasing demand for GPT-style services. To create a sense of legitimacy, these apps steal the logo and design elements of OpenAI and ChatGPT. However, OpenAI does not have a native ChatGPT app for macOS, and the apps you find in the Mac App Store are not legit.
Fortunately, there are two ways to access ChatGPT safely on your Mac. The first way is through the web interface of OpenAI. The web interface of OpenAI is the safest way to use ChatGPT on your Mac even though OpenAI has not yet developed a native app for macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android. You can access the web interface of OpenAI's ChatGPT by visiting chat.openai.com. You need to register for an account if you don't have one already. OpenAI lets you choose between the free and paid versions of ChatGPT. The web app works fine almost always.
The second way to use ChatGPT on your Mac is through MacGPT. MacGPT is one of the few legitimate apps that help you integrate ChatGPT into your Mac. You can make MacGPT work as a macOS menu bar app. This menu bar interface will help you interact with ChatGPT without needing to open a separate browser window. The same app enables you to seek the help of ChatGPT with various text fields and even the Spotlight Search interface. With just a trigger word, you can let ChatGPT do all the typing.
It's important to understand the different aspects of the AI service, including the privacy implications, before jumping in.
