When interacting with ChatGPT, typing the “/” character currently triggers a context menu that offers tools such as “search,” “canvas,” “create image,” and “Deep research.” While this functionality can be useful, it presents a significant user experience problem, particularly when dealing with mathematical expressions or any input that heavily relies on the forward slash as a division operator or path delimiter.
The frequent appearance of this context menu, often unwanted and disruptive, interrupts the natural flow of input and forces users to dismiss it repeatedly. This can be extremely frustrating and time-consuming, especially during complex mathematical problem-solving or coding where “/” is a common character.
I propose a feature request to modify or replace the keyboard shortcut for accessing these tools. Here are a few suggestions for alternative approaches:
- Change the hotkey: Assign a different, less common single character or a combination of keys (e.g., a function key like
F10or a modifier key combination likeCtrl + /orAlt + /). - Contextual activation: Only activate the tool menu when “/” is preceded by a specific keyword (e.g., typing
/toolor/command). - User-configurable hotkey: Allow users to customize their preferred hotkey for this functionality within their settings.
Implementing such a change would significantly improve the user experience for anyone working with mathematical notation, file paths, URLs, or any other content where “/” is a frequently used character, leading to a smoother and more efficient interaction with ChatGPT.