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ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Arrives on Mac and Windows: How to Use It

ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Arrives on Mac and Windows: How to Use It

Alicia Shapiro
October 31, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

A computer screen displays OpenAI’s ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode active on a desktop interface, with a prominent microphone icon and a gradiating blue circle, indicating the voice feature is listening. The interface shows options for productivity tasks like note-taking, design, and brainstorming, symbolizing ChatGPT's multitasking capabilities. A modern desk setup with a keyboard, stylized microphone, and tablet conveys a sleek, tech-focused workspace, highlighting ChatGPT’s potential as a voice-driven productivity tool on Mac and Windows.

Image Source: ChatGPT-4o

ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Arrives on Mac and Windows: How to Use It

OpenAI has launched Advanced Voice mode for desktop, allowing Mac and Windows users to interact with ChatGPT in a natural, conversational style. Previously available only on mobile, this feature upgrade makes it possible to have real-time voice conversations with ChatGPT, transforming your desktop experience into something more akin to conversing with another person.

How Advanced Voice Works

Unlike traditional voice assistants like Siri or Alexa, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice mode isn’t limited to brief commands. Instead, it enables fluid, two-way conversations. The AI recognizes the subtleties of human speech, including tone, pauses, and even conversational sounds like "ums" and breath sounds, to create a more lifelike interaction.

This feature uses OpenAI’s native speech-to-speech technology, meaning that it captures not only what you say but also how you say it. Advanced Voice can recognize nuances in phrasing and respond with similarly natural-sounding vocal tones, making interactions feel less robotic and more engaging.

A screenshot of OpenAI's X post announcing the launch of Advanced Voice on desktop. The post reads, "Big day for desktops. Advanced Voice is now available in the macOS and Windows desktop apps," with a link to download ChatGPT. Below the text, a short video displays the message, "Advanced Voice is now on Desktop." The post has high engagement, with hundreds of comments, likes, and shares, highlighting excitement around this new feature.

Image Source: OpenAI X Post

How to Access Advanced Voice on Desktop

Using Advanced Voice on your desktop is straightforward. To activate it:

Download the app for Mac or Windows.
Open the ChatGPT app on your Mac or Windows device.
Click the microphone icon in the chat bar (just as you would on the iOS or Android app).
This opens a voice interface with ChatGPT’s signature gradiating blue circle, ready to listen.

Once activated, you can continue speaking to ChatGPT while multitasking. For example, you could ask it to suggest Minecraft building ideas based on a scene you describe or have it brainstorm with you on a work project—all while you work on other tasks.

A Step Closer to Screen Sharing and Video Interaction

While OpenAI initially teased features like screen sharing and live video interactions, these are still in development. However, bringing Advanced Voice to desktop is a significant step toward those interactive capabilities. In the future, this feature may allow you to share your screen with ChatGPT, enabling it to see your actions and offer even more context-specific guidance.

OpenAI also envisions Advanced Voice being able to take control of your screen, eventually guiding you through processes or troubleshooting complex tasks step-by-step—an evolution that could redefine AI-powered productivity.

Real-Time API: Powering New Voice-Driven Applications

The Advanced Voice feature is powered by a robust real-time API, which OpenAI has made available to developers. This API allows other developers to integrate voice-based AI interactions into their own applications, expanding Advanced Voice’s utility beyond OpenAI’s platform.

During a recent demo, Romain Huet, OpenAI’s developer liaison, showcased innovative uses for the API. In one example, the AI acted as a virtual tour guide of the solar system, able to answer questions and provide insights about each planet in real-time. In another, the AI was used as a virtual travel agent, capable of not just finding flights but engaging in a conversation to clarify requirements and preferences, moving beyond the rigid logic tree of typical automated systems.

Why Advanced Voice is More Than Just a Gimmick

By bringing Advanced Voice to the desktop, OpenAI positions ChatGPT as a full-fledged productivity tool. Advanced Voice allows for brainstorming sessions, interactive project guidance, and even hands-free multitasking, making it far more than a simple voice assistant. It’s a tool that could fundamentally change how we interact with computers, making voice a natural and efficient way to engage with software.

Looking Ahead: A Voice-Driven Future

The release of Advanced Voice on desktop may be just the beginning of a broader shift toward voice-based computer interaction. With ongoing improvements, this feature could become a core part of how we work, learn, and communicate digitally. As OpenAI’s technology continues to evolve and more developers integrate Advanced Voice into their applications, the potential for natural, voice-driven computing may soon become mainstream.