The emergence of advanced language models like GPT-4 has transformed the world of artificial intelligence and chatbots. However, accessing these models often comes with a price tag, either through paying for access to the API or purchasing a subscription to a platform that has integrated the latest language model.

Enter GPT4free, a GitHub project allowing users to access the GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 models for free by routing queries through sites like You.com and Quora Poe. The project has gained much attention, receiving 20,000+ stars on GitHub this week. However, the project has piqued the interest of OpenAI, the creators of GPT-4, who have reportedly sent a letter demanding that the project be removed within five days or face legal action.

Xtekky, the European computer science student who runs the project, argues that he is not connecting directly to OpenAI’s API but retrieving data from other sites that have paid for their API licenses. He believes that if the owners of those sites have an issue with his scripts querying them, they should approach him directly rather than OpenAI targeting him.

This situation raises important questions about the ownership and accessibility of AI models. While it’s understandable that OpenAI wants to protect its intellectual property, the fact that GPT4free has gained so much attention suggests that there is a demand for accessible AI models. The project also highlights the importance of democratizing AI and making it more accessible to people who may not have the resources to pay for expensive subscriptions or API access.

There is no doubt that language models like GPT-4 have immense promise, but we need to ensure they are available to everyone, not just those with the means to pay for them. This circumstance, perhaps, will inspire a larger discussion about how we can make AI more accessible and inclusive and strike a balance between preserving intellectual property and making AI open to everyone.