OpenAI Rolls Out Advanced Voice Mode with New Features and Voices

OpenAI is rolling out Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) to ChatGPT Plus and Teams users, with Enterprise and Edu access coming next week.
Five new voices—Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale—have been added, bringing the total number of voices to nine.

OpenAI is expanding its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) to more paying users, starting with ChatGPT Plus and Teams members this week. Enterprise and Edu customers will begin receiving access next week. AVM, designed to enhance natural conversations with ChatGPT, has also received a design update, now represented by a blue animated sphere instead of black dots.

Advanced Voice is rolling out to all Plus and Team users in the ChatGPT app over the course of the week.

While you’ve been patiently waiting, we’ve added Custom Instructions, Memory, five new voices, and improved accents.

It can also say “Sorry I’m late” in over 50 languages. pic.twitter.com/APOqqhXtDg
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 24, 2024

As part of the rollout, five new voices—Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale—have been added, bringing the total to nine. These voices, inspired by nature, were created using professional voice actors selected for their “warm, approachable, and inquisitive” qualities, according to OpenAI.

Advanced Voice Mode enables users to interrupt ChatGPT’s responses mid-sentence, as well as detect and adapt to the emotional tone of a user's voice, offering a more personalized experience. Additionally, the model has improved its pronunciation of non-English words, making it more useful for international users.

For now, AVM is available only to Plus and Team users, who pay $20 and $30 per month, respectively. Enterprise and Edu customers will start receiving access next week, but the timeline remains vague. Free-tier users will not have access to AVM, though the standard voice mode will remain available for all paid tiers.

OpenAI previously removed the “Sky” voice, following legal concerns from actress Scarlett Johansson, whose voice the model allegedly resembled. The update now includes new voices without such issues.

The new AVM features are not yet available in certain regions, including the EU, UK, and Switzerland. Plus users are expected to receive access by the end of fall.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah