We get it—some of you, just like our team here, haven’t had the chance to try the ChatGPT Advanced Voice feature yet; but a recent leak confirms that OpenAI is about to roll it out for a select group of Plus users.
So, soon you’ll be able to compare those early demo videos with your own hands-on experience!
Is ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode available?
OpenAI’s Advanced Voice mode, first demoed in May, has been stirring up excitement. This feature lets you chat with ChatGPT on your phone in a natural, back-and-forth conversation, even giving you the power to cut it off if it starts to ramble. It also handles complex questions with ease, offering in-depth responses.
A recent leak, reportedly from the ChatGPT team, suggests that the feature is being rolled out in a limited alpha to select users. According to the email, access to this alpha phase starting September 24, 2024, will be based on various factors, including participation invites and other testing criteria. In simpler terms: not everyone will get it just yet:
Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in the Advanced Voice mode! It’s great to hear about your enthusiasm for our new features.
As of now, access to Advanced Voice mode is being rolled out in a limited alpha to a select group of users. While being a long-time Plus user and having been selected for SearchGPT are both indicators of your active engagement with our platform, access to the Advanced Voice mode alpha on September 24, 2024, will depend on a variety of factors including but not limited to participation invitations and the specific criteria set for the alpha testing phase.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to manually add users to the alpha testing list or provide specific insights into individual account access timelines. However, Plus users like yourself are among the first to receive access to new features, and we are planning for all Plus users to have access in the fall. Keep an eye on your email and app notifications, as any invitations or updates regarding access will be communicated through those channels.
We truly appreciate your support and interest in being part of the early users for Advanced Voice mode. Your enthusiasm for our products helps us improve and expand our offerings.
Best,
OpenAI Team
While OpenAI has promised that all Plus users will have access by the end of fall, this alpha rollout is a promising step toward the full release. Plus users, who pay $20 a month (or the equivalent in other regions), already get access to various LLMs, including the recently launched version 01-preview, which has impressed many with its improved math-solving and reasoning skills.
OpenAI’s voice feature has been in the spotlight for various reasons, including concerns about copyright and the recent rollout. Earlier this year, the company faced backlash over its “Sky” voice, which many users felt closely resembled Scarlett Johansson’s. After feedback and Johansson’s legal action, OpenAI decided to pull the voice, clarifying that Sky was voiced by a different actress.
Now, Plus users are eagerly pressing OpenAI to accelerate the full rollout of Advanced Voice. Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence has yet to make its debut on iPhones, keeping iOS 18 users waiting for the anticipated AI-driven features. On the Android side, Google’s Gemini AI is already making waves, with early access being rolled out, giving users a taste of advanced voice and assistant capabilities before much-anticipated AI updates arrive.
Featured image credit: Solen Feyissa/Unsplash
