ChatGPT hosted its first ever event virtually on May 13. During the event, the company behind the popular AI chatbot announced many updates along with the advanced version of the chatbot called the GPT 4o, which is even more efficient and powerful than the ChatGPT 4. The company also revealed that the new upgrade will change the way we interact with it. ChatGPT is releasing an AI voice assistant, which is starkly similar to Scarlett Johanson’s character in Her. Without revealing much about the connection with Johanson, Sam Altman tweeted “Her”, which confirmed that the voice assistant would be similar to Johanson’s character in the film.
The upgrade is all about making ChatGPT more like a real person when you talk to it. It’ll understand your feelings better and even translate what you say in real-time. During a recent live demonstration led by OpenAI engineers, including CTO Mira Murati, the new capabilities of the assistant were showcased.
One notable feature highlighted during the demonstration was the assistant’s ability to tell a bedtime story. The AI chatbot was seen seamlessly transitioning between different voices, including a robotic tone and even singing. AI also showed its capacity to interpret visual inputs from a phone’s camera and respond accordingly, all while maintaining smooth functionality, even when interrupted.
In the movie, Scarlett Johansson plays a role where she’s an AI assistant who gets very close to the main character. The upgraded assistant might remind people of that, making them feel a connection because they remember the movie. It’s like when something reminds you of a good memory, and it makes you feel happy and familiar.
Sam Altman’s post on X, simply stating “her,” immediately after the demonstration, sparked curiosity and speculation. Given Altman’s previous mention of “Her” as his favorite movie, the post fueled speculation that the upgrade might have been inspired by or linked to the film. This cryptic message hints at a deeper connection between the movie and the upgrade, inviting users and observers to ponder the significance of this inspiration.
Mira Murati clarified that the assistant’s voice isn’t intentionally modeled after Johansson’s, but rather a continuation of voices OpenAI has been using. The enhancement significantly expands ChatGPT’s existing voice mode, allowing for more dynamic interaction and responsiveness, as well as the ability to process visual input from users’ cameras.
These advanced capabilities are slated for a limited “alpha” release in the coming weeks, initially accessible to ChatGPT Plus subscribers before a broader rollout. This upgrade marks a significant step forward in the evolution of AI assistants, bringing them closer to the intuitive and expressive interactions depicted in fiction.
Source Agencies
