The subscription, dubbed "BargainBot," promises to revolutionise the world of artificial intelligence by giving Bangaloreans—who have been glued to Instagram stories and dog memes—a cheaper way to access the world’s most advanced conversational bot. Naturally, this announcement has triggered a massive shift in the city’s priorities. While some Bangaloreans are still discussing their favourite dosa varieties, others have found themselves swapping Instagram scrolls for existential musings with ChatGPT.
“I used to spend hours scrolling through Instagram, watching people’s puppy videos, and wondering if I’ll ever own a Golden Retriever,” said Shruti, a software developer from Koramangala, now fully immersed in a deep conversation with ChatGPT about the nuances of metaphysical philosophy. “But now? Now I ask ChatGPT if I should get an egg puff or a samosa, and it gives me the perfect answer. It's like a friend who doesn’t judge my food choices!”
However, the momentous introduction of this super-affordable plan has not come without its challenges. As Bangalore’s social media circles exploded with excitement, so too did its payment gateways. An overwhelmed UPI network, desperate to handle the flood of micro-transactions, broke down, leaving countless residents staring at the dreaded blue screen of "please try again later."
“The server crashed faster than my hopes of winning the lottery,” said Vivek, an exasperated tech support worker, referring to the tragic failure of UPI transactions. “At this point, I was trying to buy the subscription while my mom was trying to buy a new sari. It was like a race to see who could overload the system faster. I lost, obviously.”
Meanwhile, on the streets of Bangalore, the city's bustling cafes have witnessed an unprecedented shift. The usual hum of overheard conversations about startup funding rounds and the latest Zoom fatigue anecdotes has been replaced by a collective, almost religious, fascination with ChatGPT. The city’s obsession with egg puffs now seems trivial in comparison to the profound conversations one can have with a chatbot that answers questions about everything from artificial intelligence to why your Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping.
Bangalore’s famed cafe culture, known for its strong Wi-Fi signals and even stronger opinions, has also seen a sharp dip in foot traffic. "I used to come here for my cappuccino and to overhear people argue about which tech stock is a scam," said Madhav, a barista at the well-known Indian Coffee House on MG Road. "But now, every second person is glued to their phone, talking to ChatGPT about whether or not they should invest in NFTs. No one even cares about the free Wi-Fi anymore. They just care about the discount plan!”
Even the more traditional institutions, like the local Iyengar Bakery, have had to adapt. “We’ve had to introduce a new combo deal: one egg puff plus three months of ChatGPT subscription. It’s absurd. But that’s Bangalore for you,” said Babu, the owner of the bakery. “I’m just waiting for Sam Altman to drop a 'ChatGPT with chutney' plan, so I can put that on the menu next.”
The impact of ChatGPT's affordability has also spilt over into the city’s educational sector, where students can now ask ChatGPT everything from "How do I cheat on my exam?" to "What is the meaning of life?". Schools have started issuing notices warning students about the dangers of over-reliance on AI, with one Bangalore school even going so far as to suggest students write essays on “Why I Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT in My Exam.”
"It's an issue," admitted Anjali, a high school teacher in the city. "I gave my students an essay prompt on the role of Artificial Intelligence in education. I received essays that were literally just 'Ask ChatGPT.' It took all of five minutes to realise the entire class had outsourced their homework. This is a nightmare."
As with all things Bangalore, the fascination with ChatGPT has spilled into every corner of the city’s vibrant nightlife scene. No longer do patrons crowd bars discussing the latest political scandals or struggling startups; instead, they’re engaged in philosophical debates with their phones. “Last night, I was at Toit and overheard a group of people asking ChatGPT for life advice on whether or not they should move to Goa. Meanwhile, my friend was trying to find out why his relationship with his ex is still ‘complicated’ on Facebook,” said Aakash, a regular at the city’s popular brewery.
Sam Altman’s clever pricing strategy has certainly resulted in a shift in the tech and culinary landscape. But while the subscription plan costs less than a plate of egg puffs, the consequences have been far-reaching. The city has become a battleground for server uptime, where users battle for the right to chat with their new digital overlord.
“We’re getting at least 500 complaints an hour,” said Ravi, a UPI technician, who is now fielding issues ranging from failed payment gateway transactions to personal questions about the origins of the universe. “People are just too eager to get in on the deal. I’ve had people asking for refunds because their UPI was down. They also wanted answers to 'Why do I feel like I’m stuck in a loop?' and 'How do I get over my ex?' The AI might be good at answering coding questions, but relationship advice? Not so much."
The rush to get onto ChatGPT has also led to a rise in ‘premium’ local offerings. Known as “ChatGPT for the Spiritual Soul,” these services offer customers the ability to engage in deep conversations with a chatbot that might also throw in a little bit of astrology for free. “We thought of combining AI with astrology,” said Priya, a Bangalore-based entrepreneur. “I know it sounds crazy, but who wouldn’t want to know if their chat with ChatGPT is aligned with their moon sign?”, she adds.