OpenAI is set to release a Her-inspired voice assistant feature that can interpret facial expressions and translate spoken language in real time. During a livestream demonstration, OpenAI engineers showcased the assistant’s capabilities, including reading bedtime stories with different voices, responding to camera visuals, and acting as a translator. The assistant’s voice response is reminiscent of Scarlett Johansson’s character in the movie Her, which explores human-AI relationships and loneliness. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman cryptically referenced the movie after the demonstration. The new voice assistant represents a significant upgrade over ChatGPT’s existing voice mode, allowing for more interactive and responsive conversations. It is set to launch in a limited alpha release and will be available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers first. Additionally, OpenAI is reportedly nearing a deal with Apple to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone, potentially offering a more reliable alternative to Siri. Altman expressed excitement about the new voice assistant, describing it as the best computer interface he has ever used, with human-level response times and expressiveness.
