Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Staff
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
OpenAI releases new voice models for more natural live conversations
OpenAI today released new conversational models, called GPT-Live-1 and GPT-Live-1 mini, claiming that they sound more natural and can handle turn-taking better. These are full-duplex models, meaning they can speak and listen at the same time, allowing users to interrupt naturally and enabling features like live translation.
The company is also replacing its current Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT with GPT-Live-1 mini by default. Users of paid tiers will be able to access the larger GPT-Live-1 model. The previous model combined a speech-to-text model to transcribe speech, a large language model to generate responses, and a text-to-speech model to deliver the final answer.
The company said in a press briefing that the new models solve issues like interrupting users while they’re talking and not having enough intelligence to answer questions. OpenAI’s new models will send the query to its latest text models like GPT-5.5 for search, reasoning, or agentic capabilities while continuing the conversation.
OpenAI also showed that the model can stay silent for a long time and absorb the context of the conversation until it’s called upon. Plus, as the new voice mode has access to newer GPT models, it can also present some information in a visual format. Other startups like Monogram, which raised $40 million in seed funding from DST and Lux Capital, are also leaning into visual responses to make assistants more interactive.
which raised $40 million in seed funding from DST and Lux Capital
The company said the new voice mode in ChatGPT is designed to have longer conversations. During the briefing, ChatGPT Voice’s product lead, Atty Eleti, said he has had 30- to 40-minute-long conversations with the voice feature during walks.
OpenAI thinks that voice could be the primary interface to computing for complex work. Reports have suggested that it could launch a pair of earbuds with AI capabilities this year. However, it didn’t provide any information on hardware products.
a pair of earbuds with AI capabilities this year
“Over time, we think this will also unlock the ability to use voice as a kind of primary interface to computing, and to manage increasingly complex long-running agentic work. The kind of amazing use cases that we see people using Codex and ChatGPT to accomplish, we think voice can be the future interface to all kinds of work,” Eleti said.
OpenAI has worked on bolstering voice-based features over the past few years to make ChatGPT’s voice mode sound more natural. The company said that more than 150 million people talk to ChatGPT using features like Voice and Dictation.
Rivals are also attempting to make assistants more expressive.
Both Apple and Amazon have updated their assistants to be more conversational with better context handling. Startups like Sesame, founded by Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe and Ankit Kumar, also launched AI assistants with more natural conversation while completing tasks in the background.
OpenAI is moving in the same direction, aiming to let users talk to its assistant hands-free for a longer time. Despite its claim that the new voice mode sounds more natural, the company emphasized that it’s not aiming to make this an AI companion. It noted that the new models have safeguards built in to give age-appropriate responses to teens and provide resources if the conversation turns to topics like self-harm.
The new voice mode still needs work. During the demo, when the company showed its live translation feature in Hindi, the assistant had a heavy American accent and spoke in Hindi that was unnatural sounding and had slightly bookish tone. The company said the new mode is optimized for “most spoken languages” but didn’t specify which ones.
Topics
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
we may earn a small commission
Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web.
You can contact or verify outreach from Ivan by emailing im@ivanmehta.com or via encrypted message at ivan.42 on Signal.
Last chance to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs at all stages for real-world scaling insights and connections that move the needle.Savings end June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT.
Most Popular
If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.
Sarah Perez
If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.
If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.
If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.
Sarah Perez
Reddit is using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created
Amanda Silberling
Reddit is using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created
Reddit is using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created
Reddit is using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created
Amanda Silberling
Amazon will stop accepting new customers for Mechanical Turk
Anthony Ha
Amazon will stop accepting new customers for Mechanical Turk
Amazon will stop accepting new customers for Mechanical Turk
Amazon will stop accepting new customers for Mechanical Turk
Anthony Ha
5 desk gadgets that can make your workday better
Aisha Malik
5 desk gadgets that can make your workday better
5 desk gadgets that can make your workday better
5 desk gadgets that can make your workday better
Aisha Malik
New Google commercial imagines a Declaration of Independence written with help from AI
Anthony Ha
New Google commercial imagines a Declaration of Independence written with help from AI
New Google commercial imagines a Declaration of Independence written with help from AI
New Google commercial imagines a Declaration of Independence written with help from AI
Anthony Ha
Chevy built an all-American EV truck — why is nobody buying it?
Tim De Chant
Chevy built an all-American EV truck — why is nobody buying it?
Chevy built an all-American EV truck — why is nobody buying it?
Chevy built an all-American EV truck — why is nobody buying it?
Tim De Chant
Mark Zuckerberg tells staff that AI agents haven’t progressed as quickly as he’d hoped
Lucas Ropek
Mark Zuckerberg tells staff that AI agents haven’t progressed as quickly as he’d hoped
Mark Zuckerberg tells staff that AI agents haven’t progressed as quickly as he’d hoped
Mark Zuckerberg tells staff that AI agents haven’t progressed as quickly as he’d hoped
Lucas Ropek