OpenAI announced a delay in the launch of voice and emotion-reading features for its ChatGPT chatbot, citing the need for additional safety testing.
What Prompted the Delay?
The company initially showcased these tools in a demo last month, which generated excitement but also led to a potential lawsuit from actress Scarlett Johansson. She alleged that OpenAI had copied her voice for one of its AI personas.
When Will the Features Be Available?
Originally set for a late June release to some paying subscribers, the launch has been postponed by a month. OpenAI plans to make the features available to all paying users in the fall, depending on meeting safety and reliability standards.
Background on ChatGPT’s Voice Capabilities
OpenAI first introduced the ability for ChatGPT to speak in synthetic voices, or “personas,” late last year. The recent demo featured a more advanced AI system called GPT-4o, capable of expressive tones and complex conversations. One of the voices, named Sky, closely resembled Johansson’s AI character from the 2013 movie “Her.”
Safety Concerns and Industry Challenges
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, denied training the bot on Johansson’s voice. According to The Washington Post, a different actor was hired for the training audio.
As tech giants and startups race to excel in generative AI, several projects have faced unexpected hurdles. Google, for example, scaled back AI-generated answers after errors, and Microsoft modified its AI chatbot following bizarre and aggressive responses.
OpenAI’s Commitment to Safety
OpenAI emphasized the need for extra time to improve the chatbot’s ability to detect and block inappropriate content. Many AI tools have been criticized for generating false information, and displaying biases. Designing a chatbot that interprets and mimics emotions adds complexity, increasing the risk of errors.
“ChatGPT’s advanced Voice Mode can understand and respond with emotions and nonverbal cues, moving us closer to real-time, natural conversations with AI,” OpenAI stated. “Our mission is to bring these new experiences to you thoughtfully.”
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