When many people think of ChatGPT, they think of the latest AI technology that can only run on modern devices. But who would have thought that it can now run on the iPhone 3GS released in 2009? You know, at this time, Siri was not even born.
This is not magic, but the latest achievement of a 17-year-old German developer named Mali (nickname bag.xml). Recently, he developed an app called ChatGPT for Legacy iOS specifically for old iOS devices, so that those "antique phones" that have long been put aside can also smoothly access the most cutting-edge AI chat service.
At the same time, he also open-sourced this project on GitHub: https://github.com/bag-xml/ChatGPT-for-Legacy-iOS
Old iPhones can now use AI
In fact, since ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, it has gradually covered various platforms from computers to mobile phones-as long as your device can connect to the Internet, you can basically interact with this AI model. However, if you want to use the official ChatGPT App on your iPhone, you can only experience it on new models with iOS 17 or higher.
"Grandpa-generation" devices like the iPhone 3GS are no longer within the official consideration range, so naturally they cannot use the ChatGPT App.
This time, Mali, who always likes challenges, brought an application called "ChatGPT for Legacy iOS", which is designed for devices that cannot run the OpenAI official app. It is equivalent to providing these obsolete devices with a "password" to enter the world of AI.
Although it is a personal development, Mali said that this app is not just a "usable" proof-of-concept work, but a product with most of the core functions of the official version. It is developed based on OpenAI's official API, not only supports chat dialogues, but also realizes a complete experience such as context memory and chat history synchronization, and even takes into account some features of the latest version of iOS.
Judging from the official website, this app can do a lot of things and is very easy to use:
It doesn't just chat - it can also "think with you." Whether you're brainstorming, seeking advice, or just want to chat with an AI, it can understand your context without having to re-explain the background every time.
It can also "remember" what you said. When you come back from the middle of a conversation last time, it can continue the conversation. It feels like an intelligent assistant that really understands you.
Moreover, it can not only "read words", but also "read pictures". You can upload pictures, and it can help you analyze, understand, and even provide suggestions for design pictures.
According to Mali, the design of "ChatGPT for Legacy iOS" is inspired by iOS 7. It adopts a simple and flat interface style, which truly embodies minimalism. From typography to interface layout, every detail respects the simplicity and clarity of iOS 7.
So in terms of UI, the ChatGPT for Legacy iOS app is not simply a shell app, but is built from scratch for old devices.
Mali said that in the past, some people tried to run ChatGPT on old iPhones, but those versions were more of a "just-run-it-is-okay" approach, with old interfaces, slow operations, and a half-finished experience. This version has a clean, unified interface, and the entire operation process is smooth, whether you are using an iPhone 3GS or an iPhone 6.
Like ChatGPT, this app also has a sidebar design. It continues the style of the main interface, using a black background to distinguish the content area, but still retains the classic white and green color scheme, which looks coordinated. Among them, all your chat records are stored here.
The project is open source
Currently, ChatGPT for Legacy iOS is compatible with iOS 6 and above, which means it can run on iPhone 3GS and above. Its official website revealed that iPod Touch, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, etc. can directly run this app to experience the functions of ChatGPT.
However, it is worth noting that since the App Store no longer supports apps for these devices, installing the ChatGPT Legacy iOS app requires a jailbroken device.
Once the application is installed, you will need to log in using your ChatGPT API key, which you can obtain from the OpenAI website.
Of course, in order to let more users know the details, Mali chose to open source the "ChatGPT Legacy iOS" project on GitHub, following the GNU General Public License v3.0: https://github.com/bag-xml/ChatGPT-for-Legacy-iOS. Interested friends can experience it for themselves.
The author behind the scenes is only 17 years old
With the open source of the ChatGPT for Legacy iOS project, many netizens came to watch, and the comment area was full of ridicule and nostalgia:
Someone joked: "I'm sure the three friends who are still using 3GS will appreciate this project. After all, these phones are old enough to get a driver's license."
Some people also joked that this is simply a "life extension artifact" for old phones: "Great! This way, my old phone that I use daily can probably last another year!" Another netizen recalled: "I still remember when I spent $400 to buy this phone. Oh, those were really good days."
Of course, some people think that such a project has "little practical significance". After all, there are very few users who still use iPhone 3GS or iPhone 5. Moreover, the App itself requires manual configuration of API keys and is limited by the performance bottleneck of old devices, so the threshold for use is not low.
But then again, being able to put the modern ChatGPT service into a 16-year-old phone is quite impressive in itself. What’s even more surprising is that the author of this project, Mali, is actually just a 17-year-old boy.
On his personal website bag-xml.com, Mali introduced himself like this: "I am just an ordinary 17-year-old high school student living in Germany. I have a lot of free time, so I like to tinker with old equipment."
What he is best at is "extending the life" of old devices, writing apps for iPhone 5, reviving discontinued services, and even getting Discord running again on iOS 6. It sounds easy, but in fact, the compatibility, adaptation and UI design involved are not simple at all.
In addition to writing code, Mali is not completely a "tech geek". He also likes gliding and hiking. It can be said that he is the kind of young people who naturally integrate interests and technology: enjoying life while doing cool things with code. ChatGPT for Legacy iOS is another achievement he made while "playing around".
refer to:
https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/10/chatgpt-now-runs-on-iphone-3gs-thanks-to-third-party-developer/
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1jw05ns/chatgpt_now_runs_on_iphone_3gs_thanks_to/
This article comes from the WeChat public account "CSDN" , compiled by Su Mi, and published by 36Kr with authorization.
