OpenAI has announced the rollout of its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) to an expanded set of ChatGPT’s paying customers, offering an exciting upgrade to how users interact with the AI. The AVM feature, designed to make conversations with ChatGPT feel more natural, will initially be available to customers in the Plus and Teams tiers, with Enterprise and Edu users gaining access the following week. This move brings voice interactions to the forefront of ChatGPT's capabilities, further enhancing how users can engage with the AI.

As part of this rollout, AVM comes with a fresh, updated design. OpenAI has swapped the previously showcased animated black dots for a sleek, blue animated sphere to represent the feature. This new visual change aligns with the idea of creating a smoother, more intuitive experience. Once AVM is activated for users, they’ll receive a notification next to the voice icon within the ChatGPT app, signaling that the feature is available to use.

The rollout is expected to be completed over the week, with all Plus and Teams users gaining access to AVM in the ChatGPT app. One of the most significant parts of this update is the introduction of five new voices, which users can try out: Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale. These nature-inspired names reflect the goal of making ChatGPT sound and feel more natural. The addition of these voices brings the total number available to nine, nearly matching the options provided by Google’s Gemini Live. The earlier voices, Breeze, Juniper, Cove, and Ember, remain available as well, offering users a variety of tones to suit their preferences.

However, a notable voice missing from this lineup is Sky, the voice that was showcased during OpenAI’s spring update. Sky was pulled after Scarlett Johansson issued a legal threat, alleging that it sounded too similar to her voice. Johansson, known for portraying an AI system in the film "Her," took issue with the resemblance. Although OpenAI stated that it never intended to replicate her voice, and despite some staff members making light references to the film in tweets, the company decided to remove Sky from the roster to avoid further legal complications.

One feature that hasn’t made its way into this rollout is the video and screen-sharing capabilities OpenAI demonstrated in the spring. The demo highlighted how users could interact with ChatGPT in real time, asking questions about math problems or code directly from their screens. While this feature is still on the horizon, OpenAI has not provided a timeline for when it will launch, leaving users eagerly waiting for the next phase of ChatGPT’s evolution.

OpenAI has made several improvements to AVM since its limited alpha release earlier in the year. The voice feature is now better at understanding accents, a significant improvement for users who struggled with early glitches. Conversations are also reportedly smoother and faster, which enhances the overall experience for those engaging with voice mode. During testing, some users encountered glitches, but OpenAI claims these issues have largely been addressed, promising a more stable experience moving forward.

Another aspect of the update is the expansion of customization options within AVM. Custom Instructions allow users to personalize how ChatGPT responds to their unique needs, making the experience more tailored. Additionally, the Memory feature enables ChatGPT to remember details from past conversations and reference them later, adding a layer of continuity to ongoing discussions.

That said, the AVM feature is not available everywhere just yet. OpenAI has confirmed that it won’t be rolling out to several regions, including the EU, the U.K., Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, for now. While users in these areas will have to wait, OpenAI is continuing to refine its voice technology and expand its capabilities across a growing number of regions.

Overall, AVM marks a significant milestone in ChatGPT’s development, bringing voice interaction closer to the fluid, natural conversations many users have been hoping for. With new voices, improved understanding, and more personalization options, this latest update sets the stage for future innovations that will further blend AI into everyday life.

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