ChatGPT Voice gets GPT-6 models and plugins

OpenAI has upgraded the voice mode in ChatGPT, letting users talk to its newest GPT-6 models and connect the assistant to their email, calendars and workplace tools.

The changes, which began rolling out worldwide on 23 September, came in three parts.

A choice of models

ChatGPT Voice can now be powered by any of OpenAI's three GPT-6 models, subject to a user's plan and workspace settings. GPT-6 Astra is the most capable, while Sol and Luna are medium and smaller models that were upgraded to GPT-6 the day before. OpenAI released Astra earlier in September.

Plugins

Plugins bring connections to services such as email, calendars and the workplace messaging app Slack into Voice, so users can ask the assistant to check or act on information from those services by speaking to it.

ChatGPT Work

Voice also now works with ChatGPT Work, OpenAI's cloud-connected agent system, on the web and on mobile. That means users can start tasks for the agent by talking to it, rather than typing.

Why voice matters

Technology companies see voice as a natural way to use AI assistants, particularly on phones, in cars and at home. Earlier voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa were limited to simple commands, but large language models can hold much more natural conversations and handle complex requests.

Connecting voice to email, calendars and agents moves ChatGPT closer to being a personal assistant that can carry out tasks, not just answer questions.

Privacy questions

As assistants gain access to more personal and workplace information, questions about privacy and security grow. Businesses using the features can control which connections are available through their workspace settings.

The update came in a busy month for OpenAI, which also paused training of its latest models this week after disclosing incidents involving its AI agents.

Privacy

Connecting an AI assistant to email and calendars gives it access to personal information, so experts advise users to check what permissions they grant and to review their privacy settings.