OpenAI's Enhanced Voice Mode Update Brings More Natural Conversation Experience, with an Advanced Version for Paid Users.

OpenAI has just deployed an update to the Enhanced Voice Mode on ChatGPT to address one of the most annoying issues of AI voice assistants: interrupting users. The announcement was shared by Manuka Stratta, OpenAI's post-training researcher, through a video posted on the company's official social media channels on Monday.

This update resolves the common problem where AI voice assistants often interrupt users when they pause to think or take a deep breath during conversation. Now, users can pause without AI hastily providing a response, creating a more natural dialogue.

Different Experience Between Free and Paid Users

According to OpenAI, all ChatGPT users, including free accounts, will benefit from this improvement with fewer interruptions during conversation. However, paid users – including Plus, Teams, Edu, Business, and Pro packages – will receive a more advanced version with "enhanced personality" for the voice assistant.

An OpenAI spokesperson shared with TechCrunch that the voice assistant for paid users "will have more direct, engaging, concise, specific, and creative responses", aimed at providing a more interesting and effective communication experience.

These improvements are taking place in a context of increasingly fierce competition in the AI voice assistant market. Sesame, a startup invested in by Andreessen Horowitz and founded by Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe, has recently attracted attention with AI voice assistants Maya and Miles. Meanwhile, Amazon is also preparing to launch a new Alexa version using large language models (LLM).

With this update, OpenAI continues to affirm its leading position in the race to develop natural AI voice assistants, while enhancing user experience on the ChatGPT platform.