Recently, a 17-year-old developer showcased remarkable technical skills by creating "ChatGPT for Legacy iOS," an app bringing the power of modern AI to older iPhones, including the iPhone 3GS. The app's release has garnered significant attention for bypassing Apple's limitations on older devices, breathing new life into these previously obsolete phones.
Officially, the ChatGPT app requires iOS 17 or later, excluding many older iPhone users from this cutting-edge technology. However, this young developer cleverly utilized OpenAI's API to bring ChatGPT functionality to these older devices. The new app supports basic chat, context memory, chat history saving, and image uploads, enabling richer and more engaging conversations.
Importantly, the app is compatible with iOS 6 and later, covering iPhone 3GS and subsequent models. However, since the App Store no longer supports these older devices, users need to jailbreak their devices and obtain an API key from the OpenAI website to log in. While the installation process might be complex, it offers older device users a fantastic opportunity to experience AI technology.
Promoting open-source principles, the app's source code is publicly available on GitHub. Anyone interested can access and learn how to install and use it. Despite the slightly higher barrier to entry, this initiative opens a gateway to the AI world for older iPhone users and deserves recognition.
In an interview, the developer expressed immense satisfaction in enabling older devices to remain functional and encouraged others to contribute to this open-source project, collectively exploring the future of AI.
