OpenAI has introduced the Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) for ChatGPT, aiming to improve the user experience. However, this feature is not yet accessible in some European regions, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway. Currently, AVM is available to subscribers of ChatGPT Plus and Teams, with plans to extend access to Enterprise and Education users next week.
What Does Advanced Voice Mode Offer?
Led by CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI has unveiled AVM to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities for subscribers of Plus and Teams. The company announced via its official X account that the feature would be rolled out to all eligible users this week. In this update, users will find new options such as Custom Instructions, five distinct voices, Memory capabilities, and improved accent recognition.
Why Are Some Regions Excluded?
Currently, AVM is not available in certain European countries due to unspecified regulatory challenges. The rollout excludes EU member countries, the UK, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. OpenAI has not provided a timeline for when these regions might receive the voice feature, but regulatory compliance appears to be a significant factor.
Despite the introduction of AVM, some anticipated features remain absent. The video and screen-sharing functionalities announced in May are still missing from the current offerings. OpenAI faces additional hurdles, such as legal and content moderation issues, illustrated by the removal of the Sky voice due to legal pressures involving Scarlett Johansson. The company clarified that the similarity was unintentional, removing the voice as a safeguard against potential legal action.
Recent events also include a security breach where OpenAI’s social media account was targeted by cryptocurrency scammers. The attackers briefly controlled the official X account, promoting a fraudulent token named “$OPENAI” and leading users to phishing sites to capture cryptocurrency wallet details. These technical and legal challenges underscore the difficulties OpenAI encounters as it seeks to advance its voice technologies.
OpenAI’s efforts to expand ChatGPT’s voice capabilities are notable, despite regulatory, legal, and security challenges that persistently slow progress. The situation underscores the complexity of navigating technological advancements in a landscape fraught with legal and compliance issues.