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OpenAI had big plans for their Spring Update event in May 2024, showcasing their new GPT-4o foundation model and the much-anticipated Voice Mode for ChatGPT. This new feature is designed to offer a more natural, conversational experience with the AI chatbot, complete with emotional inflection and the ability to handle interruptions.
However, the rollout of Voice Mode has been delayed by at least a month. Originally set to launch in late June, it now won’t be available until late July or early August at the earliest, and even then, only to a select group of users.
OpenAI explained that they need more time to ensure the new Voice Mode can “detect and refuse certain content.” They’re also working on improving the overall user experience and preparing their infrastructure to handle scaling to millions of users while maintaining real-time responses.
In a recent update on social media, OpenAI stated that they’re excited about Voice Mode but need the extra time to reach their high standards for launch. They plan to start with a small group of ChatGPT Plus users to gather feedback and expand from there, aiming for a broader release in the fall. Additionally, they are working on new video and screen-sharing capabilities, with more updates to come.
Despite this delay, OpenAI continues to face competition from rivals like Anthropic, which has released its own new foundation model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet. OpenAI is also dealing with legal challenges and criticism over its safety measures and internal policies.
Notably, actress Scarlett Johansson criticized OpenAI for allegedly using a voice that sounded like hers without permission during a demo. OpenAI has since disabled that AI voice and refuted her claims.
Despite these hurdles, OpenAI continues to attract attention and new users. Their unreleased video AI model, Sora, has been used to create new music videos and commercials. Meanwhile, healthcare startup Color is integrating GPT-4o into a cancer screening app for clinicians, and OpenAI is signing new enterprise accounts.
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