Released earlier this year, ChatGPT 4o's reveal was certainly a spectacle. OpenAI's AI chatbot received a significant upgrade, enhancing its ability to see and hear users better. Best of all, the model was free for users, with an option to upgrade to the Plus subscription for more extensive ChatGPT features.
With the announcement and rise of ChatGPT 4o, OpenAI cemented the model as one of the best AI chatbots available. The impending release of OpenAI Sora promises an equally impressive video generator, but like the lack of a release date for Sora, ChatGPT 4o's best feature is still missing.
While it controversially featured a voice resembling Scarlett Johansson's, the ChatGPT 4o voice assistant is arguably the most promising feature of the new model. Showcased during OpenAI's reveal event, it took center stage as the primary function of ChatGPT 4o, making us believe that assistants like Siri could be replaced by ChatGPT.
However, OpenAI is delaying the small test of the ChatGPT Voice Mode feature from late June to late July. This test, limited to a small number of Plus subscribers, will give some ChatGPT fans the chance to try it out. Unfortunately, the limited nature of the test means many will miss out.
In a Twitter post about the delay, OpenAI shared plans to release Voice Mode to all ChatGPT paid subscribers in the fall. However, they added that "Exact timelines depend on meeting our high safety and reliability bar," so the feature may not meet that broad release window.
While it's disappointing that the feature isn't arriving sooner, especially given its popularity after the event, it's reassuring that OpenAI is focusing on safety. Recently, Copilot AI has generated harmful images, and Google AI has given dangerous advice, such as telling people to drink urine.
In other OpenAI news, the company's CTO stated that some creative jobs shouldn't exist, especially if ChatGPT can easily replace them.