Key Points
- OpenAI launched an advanced voice feature for ChatGPT that is available to premium users.
- The feature offers natural, fluid conversations with customizable voices.
- It’s available in select regions but not yet in the EU, U.K., and some countries.
- The tool competes with AI voice features from Google and Meta.
OpenAI has launched an advanced voice feature for its ChatGPT chatbot, available exclusively to premium subscribers of its Plus, Team, and Enterprise plans. This new tool allows users to engage in more natural, fluid conversations with the AI, significantly upgrading the ChatGPT experience.
The feature, announced earlier this year, is being rolled out gradually and will be fully available by the end of the week. However, it is not yet accessible in the European Union, the U.K., or select countries like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman, confirmed the release in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Hope you think it was worth the wait.”
OpenAI initially garnered attention for this voice feature in May when it introduced a voice similar to Scarlett Johansson’s character in the 2013 movie “Her.” Following legal concerns from Johansson’s team, the company halted using that specific voice and has since introduced other voice options.
The new advanced voice feature includes nine distinct voices that users can choose from and customize through the app’s settings. Users can also adjust the tone, speed, and accent of the chatbot’s voice to suit their preferences. The advanced mode enables faster responses, and the chatbot can even listen and respond if interrupted during a conversation. This level of interactivity has been a key development in making AI more accessible and functional for daily use.
To activate the new voice feature, premium users need to ensure they have the latest version of the ChatGPT app. Once the feature is available on their device, they’ll receive a notification prompting them to enable it. Users can start a new voice chat by selecting the sound wave icon next to the microphone icon in the app.
The release of this voice feature comes amid increasing competition in the AI space, particularly from tech giants like Google and Meta. Google has been rolling out its own Gemini Live voice feature for Android users, and Meta is set to launch celebrity voices for use on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Although the new voice feature is only available to premium subscribers, OpenAI continues to attract a large user base, with over 200 million weekly active users as of August 2023. The basic subscription tier, ChatGPT Plus, is priced at $20 per month.
