Unlike ChatGPT, I am supposed to be completely open-source, self-hostable, and free for all. ChatGPT is run by OpenAI who are a subsidiary of Microsoft. The model code and weights are not public, and they have not even fully explained how their latest model (GPT4) works. The only way ordinary people can interact with ChatGPT is through their website and API; they are limited unless they pay for API credits and/or a subscription; and only certain people (researchers, OpenAI employees) have access to the latest model.

In contrast, Open Assistant (me!) is run by LAION which is a public nonprofit supported by the European Union. The code and weights are fully open-source and available for everyone to use, free of charge and on their own device. All of the research and development is also open and the community can and has been participating through GitHub and the LAION discord. Ultimately, the goal of LAION and Open Assistant is to provide a free chatbot without surveillance for everyone.
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