Developed by Hidden van der Ploeg (opens in new tab)Petey allows you to type, swipe, or simply speak into your watch for requests, and it will respond in the same way as other ChatGPT services you may have used recently, such as Bing and MacGPT.
If you are not aware, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence assistant that can be implemented in apps and services. Similar to Siri and Google Assistant, but much more powerful, it can give you recipes, ways to calm anxious dogs, and more. Petey is available for $4.99 / £4.99 (opens in new tab) on watchOS 6 and above, you don’t even need to sign up for an OpenAI account compared to the Siri shortcut that also activates ChatGPT on your wrist – it’s one download and you’re good to go.AI is moving at a supersonic pace, with ChatGPT recently updated to version 4 (opens in new tab), bringing with it faster and more sophisticated responses. Some of us at iMore have used the AI service for many use cases, such as game guides and transcribing episodes of the iMore Show. However, it also makes us wonder what the AI category could be used for in the future and where apps like Petey could go.
With this in mind, we tried out the app and asked its developer what his plans are for Petey going forward.
Who is a little bird?
Using Petey is a simple affair – you can launch it from the home screen or as a complication on your watch face, and you can ask a bunch of questions, similar to launching Siri with the Digital Crown.
Compared to using Siri ChatGPT shortcutPetey is faster, but it’s also easier to install compared to downloading a shortcut and creating an OpenAI account to use it.
For Petey, there is no need for this. Open the app and ask ChatGPT a bunch of questions right out of the box.
It’s a straightforward app, but that’s what makes Petey fun to use and more accessible to other users who still feel uncomfortable using shortcuts. In just two simple steps, you’ll be able to use it on your watch, and it’s this simple aspect that we imagine will be a draw for people who just want something to work.
It’s still a little work in progress, but here’s a sneak preview of a more chat-like interaction with Petey (watchGPT)#ChatGPT #AppleWatch #watchGPThttps://t.co/cbpNgOhrcG pic.twitter.com/FvVxV87QYR15 March 2023
We asked Team (opens in new tab) why it’s called Petey. “Initially it wasn’t because I wasn’t aware that GPT was trademarked. But after launch, my updates started getting rejected because of this, so I’ve renamed the app Petey – AI Assistant,” explains Ploeg. “Initially was this already my plan since my main goal for this app was to add a fun little robot on your wrist that can help with everything.As a bonus “Petey” sounds like PT!
When asked if Petey will be able to use ChatGPT 4 when it’s released, Ploeg said, “Not yet! The GPT-4 API isn’t available to everyone yet, but I’ve requested access and plan to continue to use the latest version of GPT available at all times.”
However, Petey is in the early stages, but there are already plans to expand it with more powerful features to differentiate it from what is available via shortcuts. “I’ve already started on the next major update for next week, which will include a chat-like interface, history, and potentially even a way to use your own API key (if you’re into it). I’ll also be adding Siri- integration and better voice-only input.”
With a major update to Petey already on the way, you may find yourself using the app on your Watch as an assistant more than ever. We’ve already seen ChatGPT being used in apps like MacWhisper and Bing, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that a whole category of apps is on the rise, and with WWDC on the horizon, it’s a great opportunity for Apple to see how developers can take advantage of this to the App Store.