OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has initiated testing of a new feature for its chatbot that is currently only available in the United States and India. The company is experimenting with offering a mobile-only registration option for ChatGPT users, as hinted in their latest Q&A page update. Users can create an account using their phone number, though each number can only be used to establish one account.

In reality, the company noted that even if a user deletes their account after registering with a phone number, that number will remain ineligible for creating any new OpenAI accounts in the future. Although it may seem unusual, OpenAI confirmed this policy: "Deleting an old account does not free up the phone number. If it has been used for verification, it remains disqualified from being used for new registrations," the company stated in the Q&A section.

The AI pioneer also revealed that once a mobile-based user links their email, they can switch to logging in via Google, Apple, or Microsoft on the same account. However, to link an email to a mobile-only account, users must first upgrade to any paid ChatGPT plan, including Plus, Pro, or Teams.

This feature, first discovered by software engineer Tibor Blaho, does not diminish the importance of emails for ChatGPT accounts. For instance, users who create accounts using phone numbers may encounter issues when upgrading to paid plans, as email verification is still required before selecting Plus or Pro versions.

Beyond this, multi-factor authentication will not be activated until users verify their accounts with a valid email address. Although OpenAI offers its chatbot services globally (with notable exclusions such as China), the company clearly states there are no current plans to extend the mobile-only registration feature beyond the US and India.

If users encounter an error message stating "This number has been registered too many times" while trying this feature, the company advises there is no immediate solution. "Unfortunately, recycled or reused phone numbers might trigger this error. There is no workaround at present. You need to contact support or wait for future system updates (scheduled for 2025) to resolve this issue," the company clarified. Previously, the Microsoft-backed AI giant had enabled access to ChatGPT via phone calls for users in the US.