The ChatGPT app for Windows is simply an Electron-based web app

Earlier this year, OpenAI introduced the ChatGPT application for macOS. After a long wait, OpenAI has finally released the ChatGPT app for Windows 11 and Windows 10. However, it seems that the company did not put much effort into launching the app for Windows.

According to Windows Latest, the ChatGPT app for Windows is a web wrapper in an Electron container. Microsoft recommends the use of WebView2 for building web apps. However, OpenAI decided to use Electron framework in which the app consumes a lot more resources when compared to apps developed using WebView2 framework. The source reveals that Copilot for Windows 11, developed using WebView2, is less than 600KB in size. In contrast, the ChatGPT app based on Electron is almost 260 MB. 

For the best experience, OpenAI could have opted to build a native ChatGPT app for Windows like they did for macOS. Instead, the company chose to launch a web app. This is ironic when we consider Microsoft's multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI. Even if not a proper native app, at the very least they could have used the WebView2 framework to build web app that consumes less resources. 

On a positive note, ChatGPT for Windows 11 brings a picture-in-picture mode. Users can access ChatGPT in a small window using the Alt+Space keys.  

Currently, the app is in its early stages of development, so the overall performance may not be up to the mark. Moreover, it is only available to Plus, Team, and Enterprise users.