When you think of AI, ChatGPT is the first name that comes to mind. I don’t know about you, but using it on my laptop and phone is something I do almost every day. But for when I don’t have my phone on me, how do I use ChatGPT on Apple Watch?
From asking it to create a monthly grocery list to planning my workout split, I talk to ChatGPT more than my therapist. My Apple Watch is already where my notifications, reminders and voice commands live. Adding ChatGPT to the mix will not only make me more productive but also make me feel like I have my life in control.
The good news? You can use ChatGPT on Apple Watch. The better news? There are two ways to do it, some a tad more complicated than others. From Apple’s own shortcut-based workaround to polished third-party apps like Petey, this guide will walk you through the best methods suitable for you.
By the end of it, you will know exactly how to use ChatGPT on Apple Watch and iPhone and which method works best for you.
Quick answer: Can you use ChatGPT on Apple Watch?
Yes, but not as a native, standalone ChatGPT app in the traditional sense.
Apple does not offer an official ChatGPT app directly for watchOS. However, you can still use ChatGPT on Apple Watch through:
- Apple’s official ChatGPT iPhone app shortcut.
- Third-party Apple Watch apps.
- Voice-based workflows using dictation and smart stack shortcuts.
Depending on what method you choose, Petey is the most polished ChatGPT on Apple Watch experience today. But if you want control, privacy and zero subscriptions, the Shortcut app on iPhone, along with ChatGPT, is the best long-term option for you and the one that I personally use.
Best ways to use ChatGPT on Apple Watch
Method One: official ChatGPT app plus Apple shortcuts (Recommended)
The cleanest way to use ChatGPT on Apple Watch without relying on third-party apps is via Apple Shortcuts. What this means is that we are using the Apple Shortcut app to bridge the gap between the Apple Watch and the official ChatGPT iPhone app. I know it sounds complicated, but stay with me, and I will tell you how to get it done.
Requirements
- An iPhone with the official ChatGPT app installed.
- The Apple Shortcuts app, which comes pre-installed on iOS.
- An Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.
Step-by-step Setup
- Download the official ChatGPT app on your iPhone and log in with your OpenAI account.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap + to create a Shortcut.
- Add a single action. Search for “ask ChatGPT” > add it to the shortcut.
- Where it asked for text, type: Text.
- Tap the arrow next to the action and only enable Show When Run.
- Tap the info icon (i) at the bottom and toggle on Show on Apple Watch.
- Now open the Watch app or Shortcuts app and add the shortcut to your watch’s Smart Stack.
That’s it, you now have ChatGPT on Apple Watch.
To use ChatGPT, tap the shortcut and speak your prompt using the microphone button. You will get a response back on your wrist. However, the downside is that you cannot continue talking in one long voice session. You will also need to trigger the shortcut again and again for follow-ups.
That said, ChatGPT does not lose the conversation context between runs. It is not perfect, but it is reliable, private, and free.
Method 2: Petey app
If you want something that feels like a real app, instead of a workaround, Petey is the current gold standard. Formally known as watchGPT, Petey had to change its name to avoid confusion, but the functionality stayed solid.
The app requires watchOS 9.6 or later and iOS 16.5 or later. Petey Premium costs $6.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
Petey stands out because it is designed specifically for the Apple Watch and it supports voice dictation, text input and conversation history. It also works in 14+ languages and can speak answers aloud. The one thing I especially enjoy about this app is that I can add it as a complication on my watch face for a super quick access.
As long as you’re using an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, Petey runs smoothly and gives you the best ChatGPT on Apple Watch experience, in my opinion.
How to set up Petey
- Download Petey from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Open the app and choose one of two options: Subscription (monthly, supports GPT-4) or Use Your Own OpenAI API key (free with GPT-3.5). To avoid subscriptions, most users go with the API key route.
- To add your API Key:
- Log in to your OpenAI account.
- Go to view API keys.
- Generate a new secret key, it will start with sk-.
- Copy and paste it into Petey and Submit.
- Once it’s done, Petey is live on both iPhone and Apple Watch.
- To use Petey on Apple Watch, open the app and tap Ask Me Anything.
- Speak, type, scribble or dictate and get answers instantly on your Apple Watch.
You can also share replies via iMessage or mail, hear responses read aloud, pick up past conversations and launch Petey via watch face complications. This is the closest thing to having a native ChatGPT experience on an Apple Watch in today’s age.
To add Petey as a watch face complication on your Apple Watch:
- Tap and hold your watch face on the Apple Watch.
- Tap the Edit button and swipe left to get to the complication tab.
- Tap on the complication that you would like to customise.
- From the list of available complications, scroll and find Petey and select it.
- Tap anywhere or press the crown button to go to the watch face, and you are done.
This is how you can get Petey right on your Apple Watch’s home screen.
Voice + Shortcuts: The Most Natural Way to Use ChatGPT on Apple Watch
Using ChatGPT on Apple Watch without dictation makes no sense. Typing on a tiny screen sure works, but it is slow and annoying, especially when you need answers mid-conversation and quickly. Dictation and voice input are much faster, more natural and fit how people use their Apple Watch already.
Using Siri to launch Petey or using tap and speak via Shortcuts with ChatGPT is the easiest way to use it on the Apple Watch. One thing to note is that I cannot interrupt ChatGPT mid-sentence like Siri, but I can always re-run the shortcut or the app with a follow-up prompt.
This is a downside we will have to bear until ChatGPT launches an official Apple Watch app, just like it did with WhatsApp after years of finding workarounds.
What You Can Actually Do With ChatGPT on Apple Watch
Using ChatGPT on Apple Watch isn’t about long answers. It is about quick thinking, fast answers and micro tasks. Here’s what actually works well.
- Getting instant answers to random questions, facts and explanations without having to pull out my phone every single time.
- Writing a quick summary, message draft and email replies.
- Solving quick maths problems.
- Generating quick icebreakers and witty replies for when I am meeting someone new.
- While ChatGPT does not have a native app, it can still store chat history. Therefore, I use it for adding quick reminders and task planning.
- I can easily brainstorm ideas and content angles for those short bursts of creativity at random moments.
- Quick language translation with better context, ChatGPT is better than using Google Translate.
- Travel questions like roots, distance, and time zone changes on the go.
- Recommendations on books, movies and restaurants for when I am in new areas.
Privacy Tips When Using ChatGPT on Apple Watch
While we may not think much of it, third-party apps do come with a risk factor. Therefore, I always recommend using API keys wherever possible. Apps like Petey also let you bring your own API keys, which means more transparency, no forced subscriptions and better control over the usage of the app.
Do not dictate passwords, personal IDs or share private health data such as blood work or reports. Always check app permissions such as microphone access, data storage and cloud syncing.
Wrap Up
Using ChatGPT on Apple Watch is not about replacing your phone or laptop. It is about those times when I need quick answers, ideas and help at the oddest possible time. I love the Petey app because it is the closest to a native ChatGPT app on Apple Watch right now, but it does come with a subscription.
If you want to avoid the subscription cost, use shortcuts with the official ChatGPT app. Either way, the idea of conversational AI living on my wrist already feels… inevitable. And I promise you, once you start using it, you will not go back!
