ChatGPT just gained superpowers. With the new image input feature, your favorite AI chatbot can now see what you're seeing—transforming how you interact with visual content.

The implications go deeper than you might think. Beyond simply telling you what's in a picture, ChatGPT can now read text from screenshots, decipher handwritten math problems, analyze charts, and even offer feedback on your designs. One feature that quietly opens up dozens of practical uses.

Let's cut through the hype and explore how to actually make this work for your projects.

How to use ChatGPT image input

The process for inputting an image for ChatGPT to analyze is incredibly simple. Just navigate to the chat box (on desktop or mobile) and click the paperclip icon to upload an image. This ChatGPT image input feature requires GPT-4 or higher to function properly.

Next, choose the file on your device (supported formats include JPG, PNG, and GIF under 20MB), then add a prompt—anything from "Describe this image" to "What color shoes should I wear with this outfit?"‎

Learn more: Using ChatGPT data analysis to interpret charts & diagrams

Gpt model differences for image input

GPT-4 generally provides a more robust and accurate experience for analyzing images than GPT-3.5, which does not natively support image input without additional plugins. As this discussion on GPT-3.5 image input notes, users often need workarounds to accomplish tasks that GPT-4 can handle out of the box. GPT-4 not only interprets detailed visual information more effectively but also can provide context-specific suggestions based on image content. These capabilities come from improvements in model architecture and training data, which focus on multimodal understanding. If you need to handle complex tasks like analyzing charts or reading handwritten notes, GPT-4 is typically the better choice. However, free users may be unable to access GPT-4’s image features, so confirming your account level is crucial before you begin.

Understanding ChatGPT image recognition capabilities

ChatGPT image input certainly isn't the first AI image recognition program. In fact, they have a fairly long history. In 2010 (basically the stone age in AI time scales), there was Google Goggles, an image recognition mobile app. Despite being a relic, it had some decidedly impressive features: the ability to recognize and translate text, and find similar images using a reverse image search. Unlike ChatGPT's image analysis, Google Goggles was primarily designed for searching rather than understanding image content.

OpenAI's latest offering has features reminiscent of Goggles, but with a unique approach. The difference is how ChatGPT now interprets the actual contents of the image, rather than searching the web and comparing it to known images. Specifically, GPT-4 Vision (GPT-4V) generates a detailed description of the image and uses that description in its reasoning process.

And it's pretty accurate. When I first asked it to identify a lunch, it easily figured out I was eating clam chowder in a bread bowl.

But in my next test, I asked it to identify the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building from a photo I took. The tool's reliance on descriptive text led to mixed results.

It cycled through a number of different search terms where it described the building, including “twin towers with spherical structures on top." On my first try, it eventually found the correct building, but referenced an irrelevant Wikipedia page. When I tried it again, it gave me the wrong building (The Tokyo Towers). At least it got the city right.

Meanwhile, a reverse image search located it immediately.

As with any emerging technology, expect continuous enhancements. The current version may not always be spot-on with citations or identifications, but it's evolving. In the meantime, be sure to double check ChatGPT's references. It's also worth noting that OpenAI processes uploaded images but doesn't permanently store them, addressing potential privacy concerns.

Tip: This is where multi-agent prompting—that is, using multiple AI tools for a larger task—comes in handy. Where ChatGPT image input falls short, you can take advantage of Lens in Google Photos and Bard. Bing also has a reverse image search feature.

Privacy considerations for ChatGPT image input

When you upload images to ChatGPT, they are briefly processed on OpenAI’s servers, raising questions about data privacy. Although OpenAI typically safeguards user data and does not permanently store images, specifics on image retention are not publicly detailed. As a precaution, avoid uploading any sensitive content or personal information that might compromise security. According to ChatGPT’s release notes, certain privacy measures are in place for Plus and Enterprise users. However, always verify that your workplace or institutional guidelines permit uploading images to third-party platforms. If privacy is a primary concern, explore dedicated on-device AI tools or consult organizational policies to determine the safest approach.

Using ChatGPT image input for text and math

When it comes to text recognition, ChatGPT shows impressive results, particularly with clear, neatly handwritten text or printed words.

It's a mixed bag with translations, though. In my tests, ChatGPT's reading of handwritten French was passable, but it amusingly mistook a bottle of black rice vinegar for premium sake when interpreting Japanese—you don't want to make that mistake when you're bringing a gift for a dinner party! Meanwhile, when I used Google Lens, it accurately translated a Japanese sign that ChatGPT told me was "too blurry" to read. (Another perfect example of how using the multi-agent approach lets you play to each of the tools' strengths.) While free users can't access image analysis, ChatGPT Plus subscribers can analyze multiple images per conversation.

Here's a cool thing though: ChatGPT can recognize written math formulas, which is way easier than typing them out. But solving them? Not its strong suit. It tries, but don't bet your homework on it—after all, it's a prediction engine that's just trying to figure out what word comes next. When I put it to the test on my old macroeconomics assignments it gave wrong but plausible answers 4 out of 4 times.

Regardless, the ability to input formulas is one big advantage over Lens, even if you have to do most of the heavy lifting from there.

Tip: There are some ChatGPT plugins specifically for math, so it feels like a win-win to use them together.

ChatGPT image input for search functions

Now that ChatGPT uses Bing to search the web, you've got options to retrieve information: either using ChatGPT's internal "knowledge," or using external knowledge from the web. The default for GPT-4 is to dynamically choose the best model, so it decides for you whether it should search or not. This is particularly useful when analyzing images that might require up-to-date information beyond what's in ChatGPT's training data.

I found that if you ask about a specific element in an image, it tends to search, but if you ask an interpretive question about the contents of the image, it usually will attempt to answer based on its internal knowledge. For example, when analyzing a chart or diagram, ChatGPT can either interpret the visual data directly or search for supporting information.

But rather than relying on its decisions, a better habit to get into is asking it explicitly to use search—or not.

When I asked it to give me tasting notes on a certain wine from a picture of the bottle's label, it was able to seek out the exact wine by reading the text and searching for it through Bing. Meanwhile, when it used its internal knowledge, it gave me a description of the typical flavor profile of Chablis instead.

The ability to search is great when Bing search finds a reputable site, but awful when it lands on a high-ranking site that's less authoritative. My wine search surfaced information from Wine.com from the winemaker themselves along with professional descriptions of the wine, so it was pretty solid. But in other tests, I've seen it end up on a less reliable site and retrieve that information instead, which is much less useful.

For now, you'll have to double check ChatGPT's work by doing research on your own to make sure it isn't digging up false information or information from questionable sources.

Tip: Monitor as it searches to see what it is looking for and on what sites. You can also explicitly ask it to tell you what it searched for.

Advanced ChatGPT image analysis techniques

For me, this is the real meat of what ChatGPT image input can do: You can analyze the image to see whether or not it fits with a theme, or whether it resonates with a certain persona.

To test it, I gave ChatGPT six possible images for a fictional sci-fi/paranormal-themed podcast and asked which would fit with the overall theme. It rated all six, dropping one as a bad fit—an assessment I agreed with.

But how detailed would it get? Turns out, pretty detailed. I gave it a synopsis of an Outer Limits episode and asked which one was the best fit based on the episode description.

When I asked how I could improve the image to better fit the theme, it gave some pretty interesting ideas, specifically referencing various parts of the actual episode. A good illustrator could have taken these suggestions and altered the image based on those suggestions.

ChatGPT image input: Key takeaways

This is yet another way ChatGPT is becoming multimodal, with its newfound ability to see, hear, and speak. I believe that multimodal AI is going to be one of the most important strains of AI development. Even though the tools are brand new, thinking in terms of multiple types of inputs (like combining image upload with text prompts) is a skill that everyone should be starting to develop.

Not to mention, ChatGPT now has all the power to exceed my capabilities in obscure music video trivia. Dang it!

FAQs

Which GPT models support image input?

GPT-4 is the primary model that provides native image input features and can analyze photos, screenshots, and documents. GPT-3.5 requires third-party plugins to interpret image-based requests, so it may not offer the same level of functionality. According to this OpenAI community thread, GPT-4 users typically have more robust performance for tasks involving images. Free accounts often lack access to GPT-4’s advanced features, including image input. Double-check your account type before you rely on ChatGPT for critical image analysis.

Are my uploaded images stored permanently by ChatGPT?

OpenAI generally processes images temporarily to enable ChatGPT’s analysis, but it does not publicly disclose long-term storage policies. As noted in their release notes, user data is protected, but specifics about how long images are retained remain unclear. It’s wise to treat any image upload as a potential privacy risk and avoid sharing sensitive personal details. If you have strict privacy requirements, consider using offline AI tools or restricting your image uploads to non-confidential materials. Always consult your organization’s privacy and security guidelines as well.

How can I get accurate results if my image is blurry?

ChatGPT’s accuracy depends largely on the input quality, so a blurry photo can hamper its understanding. To improve clarity, try taking another picture with better lighting and focus or use an image-editing tool to enhance visibility. According to community discussions, high-resolution images generally produce more reliable insights. If the photo remains unclear, you might supplement it with a descriptive text prompt. For critical tasks that demand precision, consider combining ChatGPT with other AI tools, such as Google Lens, which sometimes excels in identifying small details.