Ditch Siri: Transform Your iPhone's 'Action Button' into a ChatGPT Voice Assistant!

OpenAI has made a significant update: the ChatGPT Voice feature is now available for all free users! This means you can replace Siri as your primary voice assistant on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The latest iPhones come equipped with a customizable Action Button, which replaces the Mute button that has been a staple since the iPhone's inception. Through a new Settings menu, users can assign a variety of functions to this button, moving beyond merely silencing notifications.

You can set the Action Button to perform numerous tasks tailored to your needs. It can launch the Camera, activate the Flashlight, record a Voice Memo, open the Magnifier app, utilize an Accessibility feature, or execute an app Shortcut.

To use the Action Button for ChatGPT, simply navigate to the “Action Button” section in your iOS Settings. After that, scroll to the “Shortcut” option located near the bottom of the list. Tap the blue “Choose a Shortcut” button and browse the alphabetized list until you locate “ChatGPT.” On the subsequent screen, select the existing Shortcut titled “Start voice conversation” to link this action to your Action Button. Remember, you must have the Shortcuts app installed on your iPhone if it isn’t already.

Once it’s set up, pressing and holding the Action Button will launch your ChatGPT voice session. You can choose from five unique voice options for your ChatGPT assistant, namely Ember, Sky, Breeze, Juniper, and Cove. After that, you can ask questions directly, and listen to responses—much like Siri, but considerably more capable.

ChatGPT is not the only app tapping into the functionality of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s new Action Button feature. You can easily use it to handle tasks like ordering from Starbucks, initiating workouts, identifying songs with Shazam, calling contacts, creating notes, and much more.

Numerous third-party applications have adopted Action Button shortcuts too. This includes music apps such as AirScrobble and Music Tracker, as well as recipe apps like Calory and Crumbl, utility apps like Opal and Sleep Cycle Kids, productivity apps like Drafts and TickTick, photography apps such as Halide, and meditation apps like Zenitizer, among many others. Apple’s first-party apps are compatible as well.

If you want to create a Shortcut that fits your specific needs, you can easily set one up by tapping the plus (+) icon at the top right of the Shortcuts app. Select “New Shortcut,” give it a name under “Rename,” and hit “Done.” Then, tap “Add Action” to browse a list of possible actions categorized by type, which you can incorporate into your Shortcut. If you wish to add an additional action, simply swipe up on the search field to select another one. When you're all set, tap “Done” to save your newly created Shortcut, which will then be available in both the All Shortcuts and My Shortcuts categories. You can go back to the Action Button menu to assign your custom Shortcut.

While there are many useful options available, integrating ChatGPT undoubtedly stands out due to its versatility in addressing numerous everyday queries, especially compared to Siri’s limitations. One can only hope for a future where ChatGPT is the default assistant on the iPhone!