AI voice modes are so bad that I typically don’t bother. Up to now, the voice modes for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini have had to take turns as they listen and talk, making for herky-jerky conversations with lengthy diatribes punctuated by abrupt interruptions.
But we have seen some AI startups offering more natural-sounding voice modes, including some that actually listen while they talk, and now OpenAI is debuting an upgraded chat mode that’s also designed to be a much better listener.
Rolling out now to ChatGPT users, GPT-Live (which I haven’t had the chance to try yet) boasts a key feature: a full-duplex architecture, which allows the model to both listen and talk at the same time.
Previous ChatGPT voice modes were turn-based, similar to old-school CB radios. That means when I talk, you listen — “Hey, good buddy, what’s your 20? Over” — and when you talk, I listen — “I’m at Dunkin Donuts on I-5, over.”
With GPT-Live (which is coming out in two versions, GPT-Live-1 and GPT-Live-1 mini), ChatGPT now employs a full-duplex configuration like on a standard phone call, meaning I can (if you don’t mind too much) interrupt or even talk over you. And because it “continuously processes input while generating output,” GPT-Live is better at deciding when to talk, interrupt, or — crucially — just shut up and listen.
Aside from being able to talk and listen at the same time, GPT-Live can also deploy agents to conduct web searches while it’s talking, thus eliminating the “searching the web” pauses on the old ChatGPT voice mode when it was looking up something.
OpenAI’s GPT-Live models aren’t the first we’ve seen (and heard) with full-duplex capabilities. AI voice startup Thinking Machines has demoed voice “interaction” models that can also listen while they talk. There’s also Sesame AI, which has a voice mode capable of deploying search agents while it’s still talking.
But for most of us, GPT-Live will be the first time we actually give full-duplex AI voice chats a try, and who knows? Maybe ChatGPT will actually be worth talking to now.
GPT-Live is rolling out to all ChatGPT users starting today, including free users. The new voice mode hasn’t landed on my ChatGPT account yet, but I’ll share my first impressions once it does.
