OpenAI has launched an advanced voice mode for audio chatting with ChatGPT.
Jordan Novett, CNBC
ChatGPT is ready for more natural audio chatting.
OpenAI said Tuesday that its popular chatbot now offers advanced voice capabilities for people who pay for its premium service. This tool allows for smoother conversations.
The launch will last for one week. The company said the product is not yet available in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the UK
OpenAI announced the new feature in May. The launch of the product, called Sky, has attracted widespread attention due to its similarity to the voice of Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 film Her. Legal counsel working on behalf of Johansson sent OpenAI a letter claiming that the company did not have the rights to use a nearly identical sound and that OpenAI had suspended its use of it in its products, CNBC reports.
In the months since, people have been able to configure ChatGPT to have other voices converse with them through the free tier. The advanced version responds faster and will stop talking and listen if you interrupt it. There are now nine voices to choose from, and you can enter instructions for your voice chat in the Customize section of the app’s settings.
“Hope you think the wait was worth it,” OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman wrote in an article. X posts Tuesday.
This is an increasingly competitive field for OpenAI, and OpenAI’s support is Microsoft.
Over the past few weeks, Google Have been posting their own Gemini scene English speech functionality on Android devices. And on Monday, Reuters reported that Yuan Celebrity voices will be launched later this week and will be accessible via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
OpenAI launched ChatGPT at the end of 2022, taking the lead in the generative AI chatbot market. 200 million Weekly active users.
Advanced mode is only available to users who subscribe to the OpenAI Plus, Team or Enterprise plans. The most affordable option is the Plus level, which is $20 per month.
Here’s what to do
If you pay, 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 installed on your phone.
Open the ChatGPT application.
OpenAI says you’ll receive a notification in the app once access to the new feature is turned on. Click the Continue button to get started.
Create a new chat by swiping right or clicking on 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. Click the button and make sure your sound is on.
After a few seconds, you’ll hear a slight “crash” sound, and the circle in the middle of the screen will turn into a blue-white animation like a fluid sky. Start talking. You should receive a reply shortly. Don’t be surprised if the audio drops out a bit.
OpenAI says it improves accents in some foreign languages and speeds up conversations. But if you don’t like what you hear, you can ask ChatGPT to speak differently. For example, you can speed it up or add a Southern accent.
With advanced voice mode, you can let ChatGPT tell you bedtime stories, help you prepare for job interviews, and even practice your foreign language skills.
But even if you pay, you don’t have unlimited access to premium voice modes. After about half an hour of use on Tuesday, I started seeing “15 minutes left” at the bottom of the screen.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for details about the time limit.
