OpenAI has already started rolling out ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode to some Plus subscribers, which it introduced during the GPT-4o launch in May. However, according to a new statement from OpenAI, the full version of the feature is expected to be available to users by the end of the year.
As noted on Reddit’s ChatGPT subreddit, a new message is appearing in the ChatGPT app that reads, “We have started rolling out Enhanced Voice Mode.” OpenAI is rolling out the feature “gradually, rolling it out to users in alpha to ensure the quality of the user experience.”
This development may be considered promising news for those who expect ChatGPT to become the world’s smartest voice assistant. However, a statement at the end of the message suggests that users will have to continue waiting. The statement “All Plus users will have access before the end of the fall” increases the uncertainty that everyone will have access during the “fall” period specified in the previous timeline.
ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode will be available to users with its full version
Technically, the full rollout of this new feature, which will include the ability to create customizable character voices or serve as live translators, is expected to occur sometime between late September and late December. While that might be earlier than the meteorological ‘fall’, a more realistic statistic would be “by the end of 2024” for all Plus users.
Unfortunately, the only way to get this feature is to wait. OpenAI says “we’ll let you know when you’re onboarded.” Still, with some Plus subscribers claiming to have the feature, there may be some real-life examples of what ChatGPT’s next-gen voice mode can do.
OpenAI stated in a post on the X platform that the delay in ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode was due to security reasons. It stated that it spent time to improve the model’s ability to detect and reject certain content.
Scaling the feature and maintaining the instantaneous response times seen in OpenAI’s demos is also a key factor, with OpenAI noting that it spent extra time “improving the user experience and maintaining real-time responses as we scale our infrastructure to millions.”
OpenAI noted that there is always the possibility of delays, saying “exact timelines may vary based on our high security and reliability standards.” Regardless, we can expect these issues to be resolved in the coming weeks, with some Plus users gaining access to the feature.
Another reason for the delay is that OpenAI’s system resources may be strained at the moment, as OpenAI has also beta-launched its Google rival SearchGPT. Users can join the waiting list for this search engine, but the full release is likely to come after ChatGPT’s advanced voice mode.