OpenAI has released advanced voice functionality for audio chats with ChatGPT.
Jordan Novet, CNBC
ChatGPT is ready for more natural audio chats.
OpenAI said on Tuesday that its popular chatbot now has an advanced voice feature for people who pay for the premium service. The tool enables more fluid conversations.
Traffic will continue throughout the week. The company said it is not yet available in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the UK
OpenAI announced the new feature in May. The release got a lot of publicity due to a voice called Sky that sounded like Scarlett Johansson’s in the 2013 movie Her. Legal counsel working on Johansson’s behalf sent OpenAI letters claiming the company did not have the right to use the nearly identical voice, and OpenAI stopped using it in its products, CNBC reported.
In the months since, people have been able to configure ChatGPT to speak to them in other voices through a free tier. The advanced version responds faster and will stop talking and listening if you interrupt it. There are now nine voices to choose from, and you can enter instructions for voice chats in the Customizations section of the app’s settings.
“I hope you think it was worth the wait,” Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, wrote in a X post on Tuesday.
It’s an increasingly competitive space for OpenAI, which is supported by Microsoft.
In the last two weeks, Google has released his own Gemini Live English voice mode on Android devices. And on Monday, Reuters stated that After will feature celebrity voices later this week that you can access via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
OpenAI took a lead in the AI chatbot market when it launched ChatGPT in late 2022. In August, OpenAI told media that ChatGPT was finished 200 million weekly active users.
The advanced feature is only available to those with subscriptions to OpenAI’s Plus, Team, or Enterprise plans. The most affordable option is the Plus tier at $20 per month.
Here’s what you should do
If you’re paying, it’s easy to get started, assuming OpenAI has granted access to your device.
First, make sure you have the latest version of the app on your phone.
Open the ChatGPT app.
OpenAI says you’ll get a notification in the app once access to the new feature is enabled. Press the button continuously to start.
Create a new chat by swiping right or tapping the two line icon in the upper left corner and selecting ChatGPT at the top. To the right of the Message text field and the microphone icon, you should see a sound wave icon. Tap it and make sure your sound is on.
In a few seconds, you will hear a small “thump” sound and the circle in the middle of the screen will transform into a fluid blue and white sky-like animation. Start talking. You should get a response quickly. Don’t be surprised if the sound breaks a little.
OpenAI said it has improved pronunciations in some foreign languages and increased the speed of conversations. But if you don’t like what you hear, you can ask ChatGPT to speak differently. You can tell it to speed up, for example, or incorporate a southern accent.
With its advanced voice feature, you can have ChatGPT tell you a bedtime story, help you prepare for a job interview, or even work on your foreign language skills.
But even if you pay, you won’t get unlimited access to the advanced voice feature. After using it for about half an hour on Tuesday, I started seeing “15 minutes left” at the bottom of the screen.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for details on the time limit.
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