OpenAI’s ChatGPT gets voice upgrade, other customised features
OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it is expanding access to its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) feature for ChatGPT, rolling it out to more paying customers.
Initially, the feature will be available to those subscribed to ChatGPT’s Plus and Teams plans, with Enterprise and Edu customers expected to gain access next week.
As part of the update, AVM is receiving a new design, now represented by a blue animated sphere instead of the black animated dots originally shown during OpenAI’s technology showcase in May.
“Users will receive a pop-up in the ChatGPT app, next to the voice icon, when AVM has been made available to them,” OpenAI said on Tuesday via its X account #OpenAI.
“Advanced Voice is rolling out to all Plus and Team users in the ChatGPT app over the week.
“While you’ve been patiently waiting, we’ve added Custom Instructions, Memory, five new voices, and improved accents. It can also say ‘Sorry I’m late’ in over 50 languages,” it further read.
The update “introduces five new voices—Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale—bringing the total number of available voices to nine.”
These nature-inspired names are designed to reflect the natural feel that OpenAI aims for with AVM.
The previous voices, Breeze, Juniper, Cove, and Ember, remain available. Notably absent from the new lineup is the voice known as Sky, which was showcased during OpenAI’s spring update. Sky was removed following a legal challenge from actress Scarlett Johansson, who claimed the voice too closely resembled hers. OpenAI denied any intent to imitate her voice but took down Sky after the controversy.
One feature that has not been included in this latest AVM rollout is the video and screen-sharing functionality that OpenAI first introduced four months ago during its spring update. This feature, which allows ChatGPT to process both visual and auditory input simultaneously, has yet to receive a release timeline.
During the demo, an OpenAI staff member demonstrated how users could ask ChatGPT real-time questions about math problems or code displayed on their computer screens, but there has been no further update on when this capability will become available.
OpenAI says it has made several improvements since the limited alpha release of AVM. The voice feature now has enhanced accent recognition, and conversations are reportedly smoother and faster. While users previously encountered some glitches during tests, OpenAI claims these issues have been largely resolved.
In addition to the voice updates, ChatGPT is also expanding customization features within AVM. The Custom Instructions feature allows users to tailor how ChatGPT responds to them, while the Memory feature enables ChatGPT to recall past conversations for future reference.
Despite these advancements, “AVM is not yet available in certain regions, including the EU, U.K., Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein,” according to the OpenAI post.
