ChatGPT Now Runs on Windows 3.1

We’ve discussed in the past why it isn’t safe or secure to run Windows 7 or Windows 8.1: Microsoft abandoned these versions of Windows, and they will no longer be accepting security updates. If for some reason, however, you’re running an even older version of Windows, say, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, the same rules apply. However, there’s now a way to run ChatGPT on these ancient versions of Windows OS.

An anonymous developer, who created a version of the New York Times’ popular word game, Wordle, made a version of ChatGPT for Windows 3.1, dubbed WinGPT. As long as you have an API key from OpenAI, which does cost money, you can get WinGPT up and running on a computer running an OS from the early 90s.

WinGPT doesn’t actually do any of the processing necessary to make ChatGPT work on the computer. These PCs simply couldn’t handle it. Rather, it relies on OpenAI’s servers to submit prompts and receive responses. Even still, these PCs have very limited memory (Windows 3.1 won’t boot with more than 256MB), so WinGPT asks ChatGPT to shorten its responses as much as possible. It also doesn’t take your previous queries into consideration when answering a new query, missing out on the contextual conversation features ChatGPT is known for.

It’s also not secure whatsoever. It’s tough to get old versions of Windows connected to the internet, because it doesn’t support modern encryption standards. But WinGPT has a workaround to make its connections. This workaround is, “not secure, not reliable, and there is no warranty.” Another reminder why you shouldn’t actually try WinGPT, nor should you be connecting a computer running Windows 3.1 or 95 to the internet in 2023.

Still, it’s a fun story, and an example of tech enthusiasts keeping old tech alive for the sake of it.