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Oh, Bill, what could have been? Introducing WinGPT, an AI assistant for Windows 3.1.

WinGPT is an ambitious project that brings ChatGPT to the classic Windows 3.1 operating system, offering satirical features such as research, entertainment, and productivity assistance.

Built in C using the Open Watcom v2 compiler, WinGPT connects natively to the OpenAI API server using TLS 1.3. Built primarily in C, the user interface required manual construction of components and resizing logic. The tool has memory limitations, so it only gives short responses, and the developer doesn't send the text of previous turns in the API calls, so the bot can't use previous conversation context, making it a bit forgetful.

WinGPT gives helpful life advice and tells you jokes to your
heart's content. Embrace a world of multimedia entertainment right on your desktop, as long as it's text-based!

dialup.net

It is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v2. Although not completely reliable, WinGPT demonstrates a creative application of AI technology to older systems.

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A Win 3.1 Screenshot featuring ChatGPT answers.
WinGPT example | Bild: dialup.net

Bonus hype: The logo was created with Microsoft Paint. Program icons in Windows 3.1 are 32x32, and show up in the Program Manager as well as in the task switcher.

Just beautiful. | Bild: dialup.net

The source code, binaries, and modified WolfSSL source code can be found bundled together on the creator's website. Please note that this project is satirical and should not be relied upon for accurate information. More information and download options can be found on the project page. An OpenAI API key is required.

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Summary
  • WinGPT blends the vintage Windows 3.1 operating system with OpenAI's ChatGPT, adding a touch of modern AI to a retro platform.
  • Written in C, WinGPT runs in the older Windows environment. However, due to memory constraints, it only provides short answers and can't remember past interactions.
  • Although freely available under the GNU General Public License, WinGPT is a satirical project that should not be relied upon for accurate results.
Online journalist Matthias is the co-founder and publisher of THE DECODER. He believes that artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the relationship between humans and computers.
Join our community
Join the DECODER community on Discord, Reddit or Twitter - we can't wait to meet you.