OpenAI Gifts Voice to All Users in First Release Since Board Debacle

In its first release since its boardroom debacle, OpenAI gives all ChatGPT users access to its voice capabilities.

ChatGPT with voice is now available to users of the free version. Accessed via the app, users simply talk instead of typing. The app will process the audio and generate an audio response.

In reference to the boardroom coup – in which Sam Altman was fired and then later rehired – a demo on X saw developers ask ChatGPT how many pizzas to order as “it’s been a long night for the team and we’re hungry.”

The new voice functionality allows users to have back-and-forth conversations with ChatGPT. OpenAI boasts a powerful speech recognition system in Whisper v3, the newest version of OpenAI’s speech recognition model. First showcased at DevDay, it offers improved accuracy and commercial applicability.

ChatGPT’s voice functionality was first showcased back in September alongside a ChatGPT update allowing users to input images as prompts.

The voice and image options were previously limited to ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users.