Evaluating the Worth of ChatGPT Plus: A Developer's Insight
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Chapter 1: Understanding ChatGPT Plus
Is investing in the ChatGPT Plus subscription justified? Do the advantages of reduced downtime, accelerated response times, and access to GPT-4 truly merit the $20 monthly fee?
On February 1, 2023, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Plus, a subscription service priced at $20 per month. Subscribers benefit from:
- Uninterrupted access to ChatGPT, even during busy periods
- Quicker response times
- Priority access to new features and updates
For users frustrated by the frequent unavailability of ChatGPT during peak times, the first benefit is especially appealing. The second benefit applies specifically to GPT-3.5; Plus subscribers can toggle between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. When utilizing GPT-3.5, users can expect response times to be noticeably faster than without the Plus subscription, generating full outputs in just a few seconds compared to roughly one line per second without it. When opting for GPT-4, response times are comparable to those of non-Plus users using GPT-3.5—approximately one line per second.
The third advantage gained attention particularly after March 14, following the release of GPT-4. But what do the differences between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 mean for developers and data scientists? Let's delve into this!
We previously examined how ChatGPT-3.5 managed code generation and testing for three specific tasks: a recursive Fibonacci function, a Roman numeral converter, and a function to remove house numbers from addresses. Now, let’s see how GPT-4 performs with the same queries and evaluate whether access to GPT-4 justifies the Plus subscription.
Video Description: Is ChatGPT Plus Worth Buying? After a Month of Use. This video discusses the practical benefits and experiences of using ChatGPT Plus.
Fibonacci Sequence Exploration
We will first assess whether GPT-4's approach to writing and testing a recursive Fibonacci sequence differs from that of GPT-3.5.
# GPT 3.5
def fibonacci(n):
if n == 0:
return 0elif n == 1:
return 1else:
return fibonacci(n-1) + fibonacci(n-2)
# Test the function
for i in range(10):
print(f"Fibonacci({i}) = {fibonacci(i)}")
GPT-4 produces a similar function but adds three additional lines to validate the function's output, thus providing a more comprehensive response. Let's examine the test cases generated:
# GPT 3.5
import pytest
def test_fibonacci():
assert fibonacci(0) == 0
# Additional test cases...
While GPT-3.5 includes edge cases, GPT-4 organizes its test cases more effectively, presenting them in structured groups.
Next, we prompted GPT-4 to incorporate edge cases in its tests. In contrast to GPT-3.5, which required explicit requests to modify functions based on new tests, GPT-4 seamlessly adapted its output.
Roman Numeral Conversion
ChatGPT-3.5 faced challenges in writing a class for Roman numeral conversion, struggling to align tests with its methods. Let's see if GPT-4 performs better.
# GPT 3.5
class RomanNumeralConverter:
# Implementation...
# GPT 4
class RomanNumeralConverter:
# Improved implementation with mappings...
GPT-4's code is more robust, using type hints and providing example usage. Additionally, it utilizes a professional testing approach with pytest.mark.parametrize, ensuring a more systematic testing methodology.
Let's move on to the final challenge of removing house numbers from addresses.
Removing House Numbers from Addresses
ChatGPT-3.5 had difficulty addressing this task effectively. Here’s its initial attempt:
# GPT 3.5
import re
def remove_house_number(address):
# Regex implementation...
Conversely, GPT-4 refines the solution:
# GPT 4
import re
def remove_house_number(address):
pattern = r"(sd+[s-]?w?)"
return re.sub(pattern, "", address, count=1)
GPT-4's code is streamlined and passes all tests promptly, demonstrating improved performance compared to its predecessor.
Conclusion
After a week of utilizing the benefits of ChatGPT Plus, here are my reflections from a developer's standpoint:
- Minimal to no downtime is a significant advantage.
- The expedited response times are even more beneficial, eliminating the slow, line-by-line generation associated with GPT-3.5.
As we've observed, GPT-4 excels in code generation and testing, requiring considerably less intervention to achieve desired outputs. Throughout the week, I often relied on GPT-3.5 for simpler queries due to its quicker response times. However, for more complex queries, GPT-4 consistently delivered the required results.
In summary, at a cost of $20 per month, I believe ChatGPT Plus is a worthwhile investment if it's within your budget. Its primary appeal lies in the enhanced response times for GPT-3.5, while GPT-4 serves as a valuable resource when GPT-3.5 encounters difficulties.
Video Description: Is ChatGPT Paid Version Worth It? This video provides insights into the value of the paid subscription for ChatGPT users.