Early ChatGPT paid beta was a $42 experiment
In November 2022, ChatGPT was already usable before any paid plan existed. On December 5, 2022, an early user recorded a video showing a long setup prompt used to steer ChatGPT’s answers, similar to what is now often called . The same person later joined the early beta, which was later renamed Plus.
The remaining records include emails with OpenAI, a $42 Stripe invoice that was later refunded, and a Slack invite after payment. The first Slack channel appears to have had only 4 or 5 OpenAI employees and one outside user at the start, with other users joining a few hours later. That makes it possible, though not proven, that this was one of the first users or even the first paid ChatGPT user.
The old interface and style were much rougher than today’s ChatGPT, showing how the product was at the start.
Key points
- ChatGPT was being used in November 2022 before paid plans launched.
- A December 5, 2022 video showed early that resembled modern .
- was an early beta name before it became Plus.
- The beta involved a $42 Stripe invoice that was later refunded.
- A small Slack channel initially included only a few OpenAI employees and one outside user.