OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT's new Voice AI (without Scarlett Johansson mode)

ChatGPT's new Voice Mode update is here for some paying users, and it definitely won't sound like Scarlett Johansson.

Last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the imminent release for ChatGPT's new Advanced Voice Mode, and as of Tuesday, it's available for some $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscribers. Notably, it's available in four preset voices, not the five announced at launch, with the voice sharing likeness with the Heractor removed by the company after backlash.

The company announced the rollout on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, declaring it available "to a small group of ChatGPT Plus users." OpenAI added in a thread that it would "continue to add more people on a rolling basis and plan for everyone on Plus to have access in the fall."

Tweet may have been deleted

When OpenAI debuted GPT-4o in May, a new AI model that fuses text, video, and audio with five preset voices, it featured a "Sky" voice option that sounded eerily similar to Johansson's and particularly her performance as a digital assistant in the 2013 film Her. Johansson was not impressed, took legal action, and OpenAI dropped the voice.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

SEE ALSO: In case you missed it, ChatGPT on Mac suffered a serious security issue

"To protect people's privacy, we've trained the model to only speak in the four preset voices, and we built systems to block outputs that differ from those voices," reads OpenAI's tweet from Tuesday. "We've also implemented guardrails to block requests for violent or copyrighted content."

So, if you're a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, how do you know if you're included in this "small group"? OpenAI explained in an X thread, "Users in this alpha will receive an email with instructions and a message in their mobile app."

Tweet may have been deleted

OpenAI added it had "tested GPT-4o's voice capabilities with 100+ external red teamers across 45 languages."

---

Related Stories

---

• Who is SYNDI8, HYBE's new AI-generated pop group?
• SearchGPT is OpenAI's new search engine. Here's how to try it.
• This new tool can tell you whether AI has stolen your work
• How to install iOS 18.1 developer beta — try Apple Intelligence now
• Meta AI’s new ‘Imagine Me’ tool will let you generate AI images of yourself

The update was supposed to arrive in June but was delayed. OpenAI added it would "share a detailed report on GPT-4o’s capabilities, limitations, and safety evaluations in early August."

OpenAI announced a bunch of extra features also coming with the Voice Mode update — Mashable's Alex Perry has the details.