ChatGPT now allows direct voice conversations on your PC or Mac, thanks to the newly integrated Advanced Voice Mode (AVM), announced by OpenAI. This feature leverages the power of the GPT-4o model, OpenAI’s current state-of-the-art language model.
AVM offers a more natural interaction with ChatGPT, moving beyond text-based prompts. Users can converse just as they would with a person, including pauses and hesitations. OpenAI highlights that AVM “offers more natural, real-time conversations, allows you to interrupt at any time, and senses and responds to your emotions.”
Initially unveiled during OpenAI’s Spring Update event, AVM underwent beta testing in July and became available to premium subscribers in late September. OpenAI also hinted at limited access for free users in an October X post, promising updates for free and Plus users in the EU.
Despite its limited availability initially, AVM quickly gained popularity. Social media buzzed with examples of the feature’s capabilities, from simulated breathing during lengthy responses to diverse voice options and accents. This spurred competitors like Meta and Google to develop their own conversational AI features.
This voice integration arrives just a day after OpenAI announced a new chat history search function for the web app, allowing users to easily revisit previous conversations or continue where they left off. This combined with AVM enhances the user experience, offering a seamless and intuitive way to interact with ChatGPT.
This new voice mode significantly improves the accessibility and interactivity of ChatGPT. By allowing users to speak directly to the AI, it removes the barrier of typing and makes the conversation more natural. The addition of emotion sensing and real-time responses further enhances the experience, making it feel more like talking to a human. The rapid adoption of this feature by premium users and the subsequent response from competitors highlights its impact on the conversational AI landscape.
