AI chatbot ChatGPT from OpenAI, has been a great to go too for anything from text generation to coding assistance. As time goes by, the platform kept evolving, adding more features that users can relate to better. Among the latest updates is the ability for users to interact with ChatGPT via voice as we integrate a voice assistant.
In this guide, we’ll talk about how the voice button works, what you have to do to use it, and whether every user can use it or only those with a premium subscription.
What’s New with ChatGPT’s Voice Feature?
The most interesting new aspect of ChatGPT is that you can talk to the AI head on. This allows you to stop typing out the prompts or messages that you’d like to be executed. They stop there instead, no more, and the chatbot becomes better and more real time to have a conversation with it, just like when you talk to a human.
- How It Works: ChatGPT uses speech-to-text technology to transcribe your spoken words into text which is processed by ChatGPT to generate a response. The AI will respond to you in audio, bringing a more interactive and dynamic to the experience.
- Why It’s Useful: On top of this, ChatGPT is easier to use than its text-based counterpart – especially for those who don’t want to type large prompts. It also makes it much more fluid and engaging.
How to Use the Voice Feature in ChatGPT
Before you start talking to ChatGPT, there are a few things you’ll need to ensure are in place:
1. Subscription Requirement:
For now, the ChatGPT voice feature is only available to those on a ChatGPT Plus subscription. Unfortunately if you are using the free version then you won’t have access to this feature as of this time.
2. Accessing GPT-4:
You’ll also have to get access to the GPT 4 language model that is behind this feature. This is available under the ChatGPT Plus subscription too.
3. Microphone Setup:
Of course you’ll need a mic to speak to ChatGPT. The microphone can be either built in to your device or a third party microphone connected to your computer. Test it before handing it over to the voice feature.
4. Using the Microphone Icon:
Once you have done that, visit the ChatGPT website using your browser. If you see a microphone icon show up in the chat interface you should be good to go. Click on it and start speaking and it will transcribe and reply your questions.
So why exactly this feature is a big deal?
- Natural Conversations: Interacting with AI is more intuitive if we can speak instead of type. This is a step for more natural communication, enabling users to interact with their hands free and quick, similar how users use Siri or Google Assistant.
- Faster Responses: To better make your conversations feel like real time dialogue with improvements in latency, the voice feature aims to have a quicker response.
- Multitasking Made Easy: Thanks to voice input, users can keep working (or otherwise keep doing whatever they’re doing) while talking to ChatGPT, which is also handy for multitaskers.
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At the present time, free tier users do not have the voice functionality yet. OpenAI hasn’t yet confirmed whether this feature will be available to non–subscribers in the future, but it’s likely it could be included in future updates. Currently, users with the paid ChatGPT Plus tier get to use their voice, but that may one day be opened up to everyone.
Conclusion
The new voice feature of ChatGPT is a game changer for users who are comfortable speaking instead of typing. A more natural, easier way to communicate with AI to perform a specific task or answer simple queries. ChatGPT hands free is what ChatGPT Plus users need nothing more than just your microphone.
How do you feel about using ChatGPT with voice interaction; will this change what you do with it? Please do let us know in the comments below!