MILLIONS of iPhone and Android users can now access a premium AI feature on their phones – without paying a penny.
ChatGPT has been given a huge upgrade that makes one of its best features totally free.
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You can now speak to ChatGPT using your voice.
It means you no longer have to spend an age tapping out messages to the artificial intelligence chatbot – and can simply speak commands instead.
That way, you can control the app more naturally – as if you were using Alexa or Siri, or even speaking to a real person.
The news was announced in an OpenAI post to X, formerly known as Twitter, which reads: “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.”
OpenAI first rolled out voice chatting to ChatGPT back in late September.
But the feature was strictly limited to users who were paying for Plus or Enterprise subscriptions.
Now you can unlock it simply be downloading the latest version of the app and opting in to voice chats.
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Once you issue a command, the chatbot will change your speech into text and then craft a reply as normal.
However, the chatbot will now also convert its own text answer into audio – so it feels like you’re really having a conversation.
If you can’t see the new feature, try going in to Settings > New Features on the app to activate voice chats.
Then you’ll be able to tap the headphones icon to start a voice conversation.
You’ll also be able to choose from a roster of different voices.
OpenAI chaos
The good news comes during a week of immense turmoil for OpenAI.
On November 17, the OpenAI board dramatically fired co-founder and CEO Sam Altman.
The board blamed a breakdown in communications and a lack of confidence in Altmant’s leadership
AI guru Altman is a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, and fellow staff threatened to walk out over his removal.
On November 20, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella revealed that the company had hired Altman to lead a new AI team.
Microsoft itself has invested around $13 billion in OpenAI.
Then on November 21, OpenAI revealed that Altman was returning as CEO with a new board in place.
In a statement released on November 22, Altman said: “I love OpenAI, and everything I’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together.
“When I decided to join [Microsoft] on [Sunday] evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team.
“With the new board and [with] Satya’s support, I’m looking forward to returning to OpenA, and building on our strong partnership with Microsoft.”
