In the midst of the ongoing OpenAI leadership dispute, the AI startup has announced the expansion of the ChatGPT voice feature, making it accessible to all users. Initially introduced for paid users in September, the voice feature is now being rolled out to free users. OpenAI shared the update on X, stating, “ChatGPT with voice is now available to all free users. Download the app on your phone and tap the headphones icon to start a conversation.”
Notably, former OpenAI President Greg Brockman also commented on the latest ChatGPT update, emphasizing that it significantly alters the ChatGPT experience. Responding to OpenAI’s announcement on X, Brockman mentioned, “ChatGPT Voice rolled out for all free users. Give it a try — totally changes the ChatGPT experience.”
Brockman had resigned from OpenAI in the midst of internal leadership changes that involved his removal as chairman and the dismissal of CEO Sam Altman. The decision has faced criticism from investors and OpenAI employees, with many threatening to leave unless Altman is reinstated, and the board resigns.
Interestingly, clues regarding the ongoing dispute were embedded in the announcement video for ChatGPT’s voice feature. In the video, an OpenAI employee queries ChatGPT about the number of pizzas needed to feed 778 employees, a figure close to the total number of OpenAI staff. More than 700 employees have called for the board’s resignation.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT voice feature allows users to interact with the AI using five different voices, each created by professional voice actors. The new capabilities, powered by a text-to-speech model, aim to generate human-like audio from text and short speech samples, enabling various creative and accessibility-focused applications.
