OpenAI, the pioneering artificial intelligence firm, has unveiled a new feature for its ChatGPT application, enabling the chatbot to respond to user queries verbally.

The enhancement will likely transform user interactions with the chatbot, making them more immersive and human-like.

The update, scheduled for rollout in the forthcoming weeks, will allow users to select from five distinct voice personas, including "Juniper," "Breeze," and "Ember."

Once the user selects a voice, ChatGPT will audibly present the text it generates, such as narrating an AI-crafted bedtime tale.

This auditory feature will be accessible to subscribers of Microsoft Corp (MSFT  ) backed OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus service, priced at $20 monthly, and to enterprise clientele, Bloomberg reports.

Since its launch in May, the ChatGPT app has incorporated a voice-to-text function, allowing users to communicate verbally with the bot. Introducing an audio response feature aims to simulate a more genuine human interaction.

OpenAI envisions this update promoting mobile app usage during commutes, positioning ChatGPT as a rival to established personal assistant platforms like Google's (GOOGL  ) Assistant, Apple Inc's (AAPL  ) Siri, and Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN  ) Alexa.

Users can request the chatbot to discuss Disneyland's history en route to the attraction or seek a cocktail recipe when in the kitchen.

Preliminary tests have shown that the tool proficiently narrates tales. However, while ChatGPT can craft song lyrics, it won't perform them.

The voices, developed in collaboration with voice actors, exhibit a human-like quality, albeit with a slightly robotic undertone.

OpenAI has also hinted at future enhancements for its premium and enterprise users.

They will soon be able to submit images alongside related questions to GPT-4, one of the AI models powering ChatGPT, ranging from seeking outfit suggestions based on a picture of pink sunglasses to soliciting assistance with a math problem depicted in an image.

This feature, announced earlier during the GPT-4 reveal, will be accessible via the ChatGPT app and its official website.

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