OpenAI Postpones Launch of Enticing ChatGPT Voice Assistants

If you've been eager to spend your summer conversing with one of OpenAI's enticing ChatGPT voice assistants introduced last month, you'll need to hold off a bit longer. On Tuesday, OpenAI announced that the "advanced Voice Mode" feature requires additional development time to meet their launch standards. Initially, it will be available to a select group of users for feedback before being rolled out to all subscribing ChatGPT customers this fall.

OpenAI shared on X, “We’re enhancing the model’s ability to detect and refuse inappropriate content.” They are also focusing on refining user experience and scaling their infrastructure to accommodate millions of users while ensuring real-time responses.

Originally planned for a late June alpha release to a limited number of ChatGPT Plus users, the rollout is now pushed back by a month to achieve their launch goals. ChatGPT has featured voice capabilities since 2023, but last month’s demo showcased a new version that sounded remarkably human-like, evoking comparisons to Samantha, the alluring voice assistant from the 2013 film Her, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Following the presentation, Johansson accused OpenAI of using her voice without permission, although the company has denied this.

OpenAI is still in the process of finalizing the timeline for the new voice options (excluding the Johansson-like voice) for paying users this fall. Additionally, a feature allowing voice assistants to utilize your phone's camera for enhanced understanding of the environment has also been delayed. “Exact timelines depend on meeting our high safety and reliability standards,” the company stated.