--- title: "Uh Oh: Bing’s Deranged AI Chat Is Now Open for Anyone to Use" description: "The OpenAI-powered Bing AI chat feature is now open for general use. But it may or may not be a glitch on Microsoft's behalf." date: "2023-03-16" modified: "2023-03-16" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/bing-ai-chat-open-anyone" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "bing" - "microsoft" - "the digest" --- # Uh Oh: Bing’s Deranged AI Chat Is Now Open for Anyone to Use ![The OpenAI-powered Bing AI chat feature is now open for general use. But it may or may not be a glitch on Microsoft's behalf.]() *\Image: Jason Redmond via Getty / Futurism\* ## Waitlist Begone The floodgates have officially opened. According [to *Windows Central*](), Microsoft's chatty, AI-powered search feature — you know, the one that tried to [break up a *New York Times* writer's marriage](), named[ its enemies](), and [threatened users]() that provoked it, among a few other things — is now open for general use. The feature was formerly available to just a limited number of users, who had previously joined a waitlist. And though Microsoft still prompts users to sign up for that waitlist, the barrier that was in place now appears to be moot; moments after a Microsoft user adds their name, they're granted immediate access to the revamped Bing via email. While some netizens appear to be having trouble cruising past the waitlist for the chat feature while on the web, downloading the Bing mobile app appears to be an especially expedient means of accessing the chatbot feature. The jury's still out, however, on whether Microsoft actually did this on purpose. ## Shrug Emoji When asked if the waitlist protections had been intentionally lifted, Microsoft hit *The Verge* with an incredibly vague statement. "During this preview period, we are running various tests which may accelerate access to the new Bing for some users," Microsoft communications director Caitlin Roulston [told the *Verge*](). "We remain in preview and you can sign up at Bing.com." A perfect non-answer. Moving on. ## Timing is Everything Though the AI chatbot has had a tumultuous start, Microsoft has been making some in-real-time changes — read: [lobotomization]() — to the GPT-4-powered web app, making it somewhat less vulnerable to prompt injections and jailbreaking attempts. And speaking of GPT-4: seeing as how it's finally been confirmed that the next-gen OpenAI tech has been secretly powering Bing Chat for months, this Microsoft maybe-glitch might just be a very clutch means of trying the tech out for yourself — without having to pay $20 monthly for OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus subscription. To be clear, the Bing AI and GPT-4 aren't exactly the same product, but we're just trying to help the people out, you know? But regardless of whether this was a mistake or not, it's certainly interesting for it to occur now, as Microsoft is set to [unveil its new OpenAI-integrated Office Suite]() later today. In other words, it's one hell of a time for Microsoft to be — as Roulston put it — "running tests." **READ MORE:** [*You can play with Microsoft's Bing GPT-4 chatbot right now, no waitlist necessary*]() \[*The Verge*\] **More on Bing AI:** [*Secret Bing AI Feature Allows It to Impersonate Celebrities*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()