OpenAI has announced an expansion of access to its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) feature for ChatGPT, making it available to more paying customers. Initially, this feature will be accessible to subscribers of the ChatGPT Plus and Teams plans, with Enterprise and Edu customers expected to receive access next week. Additionally, the AVM has been redesigned, now featuring a blue animated sphere in place of the original black animated dots showcased during OpenAI’s technology demonstration 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. “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 are still available. However, the new lineup does not include the voice named Sky, which was featured during OpenAI’s spring update. Sky was removed after actress Scarlett Johansson raised a legal challenge, asserting that the voice closely resembled hers. While OpenAI denied any intention to mimic her voice, they decided to remove Sky following the controversy.
One feature missing from the latest AVM rollout is the video and screen-sharing functionality that OpenAI introduced four months ago during its spring update. This capability, which enables ChatGPT to process visual and auditory input at the same time, currently lacks a release timeline. During the demonstration, an OpenAI staff member showcased how users could ask ChatGPT real-time questions about math problems or code displayed on their screens. However, there has been no further update regarding when this feature will be made available.
OpenAI has stated that it has made numerous improvements since the limited alpha release of AVM. The voice feature now includes better accent recognition, and conversations are said to be smoother and quicker. Although users experienced some glitches during earlier tests, OpenAI asserts that these issues have been mostly resolved.
Alongside the voice updates, ChatGPT is also enhancing its customization features within AVM. The Custom Instructions feature allows users to personalize how ChatGPT interacts with them, while the Memory feature enables ChatGPT to remember past conversations for future reference. However, despite these advancements, OpenAI has noted that "AVM is not yet available in certain regions, including the EU, U.K., Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein”.
