Microsoft announced it’s now providing access to the powerful GPT-4 Turbo model entirely free of charge for all users of its AI coding assistant, Copilot.
Previously, the GPT-4 Turbo was reserved for Copilot’s Pro tier, with the free version offering a less advanced GPT-4 model. This change gives everyone the ability to leverage the faster, more responsive capabilities of GPT-4 Turbo for generating code, translating languages, and writing different kinds of creative content.
To unlock GPT-4 Turbo’s potential, users simply need to switch Copilot to either its “Creative” or “Precise” mode. Pro users will still have access to GPT-4 Turbo by default but will also have the option to switch back to the original GPT-4 model if needed.
This decision comes after Microsoft integrated GPT-4 Turbo into Copilot’s free tier in March 2024. The move is seen as a strategic attempt by Microsoft to gain a competitive edge in the AI assistant market, particularly against GitHub’s Copilot competitor.
Experts believe this free access to GPT-4 Turbo could significantly boost the capabilities of Copilot, making it a more attractive option for developers and programmers of all levels. The increased processing power and context awareness of GPT-4 Turbo could lead to more efficient code generation, improved code completion suggestions, and more natural language interaction when working on coding projects.
However, some concerns remain. The free tier may experience higher wait times or limitations compared to the Pro tier. Additionally, the long-term implications of offering such a powerful AI tool for free require careful consideration, particularly regarding potential biases within the model and responsible use of the generated content.
Overall, Microsoft’s decision to offer GPT-4 Turbo for free signifies a significant development in the field of AI-powered coding assistants. It will be interesting to see how this move impacts the market and how developers leverage this powerful new tool to enhance their workflows.
