OpenAI’s decision to postpone the release of Voice Mode comes as the company faces increasing competition from rivals such as Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI team members. Although Anthropic does not currently offer a voice input or output mode, they have recently introduced a new foundation model called Claude 3.5 Sonnet, which appears to perform on par with or surpass OpenAI’s GPT-4o model based on third-party benchmarks.
In addition to competition, OpenAI is also dealing with lawsuits and criticism regarding its safety measures surrounding artificial generalized intelligence (AGI). Some employees have raised concerns about restrictive separation agreements and equity restrictions, leading to changes in OpenAI’s policies. Even actress Scarlett Johansson joined the chorus of critics following the Spring Update event, claiming that an AI voice named “Sky” sounded like her. However, OpenAI has since clarified that they pursued the Sky voice actress separately and disabled the AI voice in question.
Despite these challenges, OpenAI continues to make strides in various industries. The company has garnered the attention of music video and commercial producers with their unreleased video AI model, Sora. Healthcare startup Color is integrating GPT-4o into a cancer screening app for clinicians, demonstrating the versatility and potential impact of OpenAI’s technology. Moreover, OpenAI has been successful in securing new enterprise accounts, further solidifying its position in the market.
Overall, while the delay of Voice Mode may disappoint some users, OpenAI remains committed to delivering a safe and reliable product. By taking the time to improve the model’s capabilities and user experience, OpenAI aims to ensure that Voice Mode meets their high standards. As the company navigates competition, criticism, and legal challenges, it continues to innovate and attract partnerships across various sectors.
