OpenAI has introduced two new conversational AI models, GPT-Live-1 and GPT-Live-1 mini, designed to make voice conversations sound more natural and improve how ChatGPT handles spoken interactions.
The company said the new models are full-duplex, meaning they can listen and speak at the same time. This allows users to interrupt naturally during conversations and enables features such as live translation.
OpenAI is also replacing the current Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT with GPT-Live-1 mini as the default voice model. Users on paid ChatGPT plans will have access to the larger GPT-Live-1 model.
The previous voice system combined separate speech-to-text, large language, and text-to-speech models to transcribe speech, generate responses, and produce spoken replies.
During a press briefing, OpenAI said the new models address issues such as interrupting users while they are speaking and lacking the intelligence to answer more complex questions.
The company said GPT-Live models can send requests to its latest text models, including GPT-5.5, for search, reasoning, and agentic capabilities while continuing the voice conversation.
OpenAI also demonstrated that the models can remain silent for extended periods while listening and gathering context before responding when prompted.
Because the new voice mode has access to newer GPT models, it can also present some information in a visual format.
OpenAI said the updated voice mode is built to support longer conversations.
During the briefing, ChatGPT Voice Product Lead Atty Eleti said he has used the feature for conversations lasting between 30 and 40 minutes while out on walks.
Eleti said:
“Over time, we think this will also unlock the ability to use voice as a kind of primary interface to computing, and to manage increasingly complex long-running agentic work. The kind of amazing use cases that we see people using Codex and ChatGPT to accomplish, we think voice can be the future interface to all kinds of work.”
OpenAI believes voice could become the primary way people interact with computers for complex tasks.
Reports have suggested that the company may launch AI-powered earbuds later this year, although OpenAI did not announce any hardware products during the briefing.
The company also said that more than 150 million people use ChatGPT’s Voice and Dictation features.
OpenAI’s latest announcement comes as competitors continue improving their own AI assistants.
Apple and Amazon have both updated their assistants with more conversational abilities and better context handling.
Meanwhile, startups such as Sesame, founded by Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe and Ankit Kumar, have also introduced AI assistants that support more natural conversations while completing tasks in the background.
OpenAI said it is not trying to turn ChatGPT into an AI companion despite making conversations more natural.
The company said the new models include safeguards to provide age-appropriate responses for teenagers and offer resources if conversations involve topics such as self-harm.
The new voice mode still has room for improvement. During the demonstration, OpenAI showcased live translation in Hindi, but the assistant spoke with a noticeable American accent and used Hindi that sounded unnatural and somewhat bookish.
OpenAI said the new voice mode is optimized for “most spoken languages,” but did not specify which languages are included.
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