OpenAI is rolling out a much-improved version of its voice functionality to paying ChatGPT users. Advanced Voice Mode lets you talk to the AI in a more natural way.
Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) is rolling out this week to customers with a ChatGPT Plus or Teams subscription. For other paying customers, the update will be available from next week, OpenAI announced this evening on X.
The update comes with a number of new voicesnamed Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce and Vale. In total, the chatbot now has nine voices. What is striking is that all the voices have names that are inspired by nature. This is no coincidence. OpenAI wants to emphasize a more ‘natural’ sounding ChatGPT.
However, one voice is missing from the offering: Sky. This voice was shown earlier this year, but disappeared after complaints from Scarlett Johansson. According to the actress, who played an AI in the film ‘Her’, the voice sounded too much like her own, which led to legal action. OpenAI quickly took the voice offline.
New design and better technology
Another notable change is the redesign of the advanced voice mode. Instead of the black dots that were previously shown, AVM is now represented by a blue, animated sphere. Free users only have access to a more limited voice function, which is indicated by a black circle.
In addition to the voices and the new look, attention has also been paid to improvements in the technology behind the function. For example, ChatGPT can now better recognize accents and, according to the company, conversations run smoother and faster. In addition, the speech function understands certain sentences in more than 50 languages.
Not yet in Europe
According to OpenAI, the speech mode is not yet available in the European Union. It is not yet known when the rollout will take place in the EU. In doing so, OpenAI follows Apple and Meta, among others, who are also not yet launching their new AI functions in the EU.
In addition to the voice function, AVM also offers other customization options, such as the ability to specify how you want ChatGPT to respond. The AI can now also remember previous conversations and reuse them in the interaction later. A number of features that were shown earlier this year, such as video and screen sharing, are not yet available in this update. OpenAI has not yet announced a new release date for these features.
Google Gemini Live
Earlier this month, Google rolled out its AI-powered voice mode Gemini Live to Android users. Google’s voice feature is free to use.
ChatGPT Plus is a $20 per month subscription, while ChatGPT Teams costs $30 per user per month. ChatGPT subscribers also recently got first access to o1, OpenAI’s new AI model that can “reason.”
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Source: www.bright.nl
