ChatGPT’s upgraded voice mode is better at shutting up

OpenAI is overhauling ChatGPT’s voice mode with a new model that it says is more like “talking to another person.” The new GPT-Live-1 is designed to interrupt you less and will also wait for you to continue speaking if you pause mid-conversation.

During a press briefing, OpenAI research lead Kundan Kumar called GPT-Live-1 the company’s “smartest voice model” yet. It will automatically pass your queries to its best text models, like GPT-5.5, when it needs to reason or search the web, allowing it to more quickly transition from researching the topic you’ve asked about to talking about its findings. The upgraded model will also supplement conversations about the weather, stocks, and sports with AI-generated visuals showing relevant information like sports scores or this week’s forecast.

ChatGPT previously relied on an older, turn-based voice model, which didn’t always produce accurate answers and sometimes struggled to maintain a natural conversational flow. “This is a full duplex model,” OpenAI product lead Atty Eleti said during the briefing. “What it really means is that it can speak and listen at the same time. … From the model side, it can process the stream of inputs and produce the stream of output continuously and simultaneously.”

This setup opens up new features for ChatGPT’s voice mode, such as real-time translation. Now, instead of waiting until you stop talking to translate your speech, ChatGPT can translate while you talk. You can also now ask ChatGPT Voice to stop talking until it’s called on, which OpenAI says wasn’t possible before. It will acknowledge that it’s listening with phrases like “mhmm” or “yeah” and “got it,” too.

OpenAI notes that it has added built-in safeguards that steer the model away from harmful responses or end chats completely in “higher-risk” situations. (OpenAI is currently facing a string of lawsuits alleging ChatGPT fueled delusions and harmed the mental health of its users.) The model is trained to offer “expert-vetted crisis helpline support” in conversations about self-harm as well, and is also designed to provide “age-appropriate” responses for teens.

GPT-Live-1 is rolling out across iOS, Android, and on the web. It will power ChatGPT Voice for Go, Plus, and Pro subscribers, while a smaller, more efficient GPT-Live-1 mini model will be the default for free users.