AI speaks: OpenAI’s Greg Brockman unveils new ChatGPT Voice feature, amid Sam Altman drama

In the midst of leadership upheaval, OpenAI has introduced a new feature, ChatGPT Voice, allowing users to engage in spoken conversations with the artificial intelligence or AI model. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s former President and Chairman, announced the availability of ChatGPT Voice for all users just days after the company’s leadership underwent significant turmoil, right before OpenAI announced that Sam Altman would return as CEO. Despite the recent turmoil and the majority of OpenAI’s employees threatening to quit unless the board reconsiders its decisions, the company has continued to innovate. ChatGPT Voice represents a notable upgrade to the user experience, enabling users to interact with the AI through spoken communication, removing the need for typing. The feature offers five distinct voices—Juniper, Sky, Breeze, Ember, and Cove—that provide a more human-like and conversational experience compared to traditional voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. OpenAI’s voice technology, Whisper, powers ChatGPT Voice, analyzing a few seconds of a real person’s voice to generate extensive hours of realistic conversations. The rollout of ChatGPT Voice is a strategic move by OpenAI to enhance the accessibility and naturalness of interactions with its AI models. The timing of this feature release, amidst internal challenges and calls for leadership changes, underscores OpenAI’s commitment to advancing AI capabilities and engaging users in innovative ways. As the company navigates its internal dynamics, the introduction of ChatGPT Voice reflects OpenAI’s determination to maintain its focus on technological development and user satisfaction. (With input from agencies)