OpenAI launches voice assistant inspired by Hollywood vision of AI

livemint.com:

OpenAI unveiled a less expensive version of its flagship artificial-intelligence system that includes a new voice assistant to make it easier to use, as it races other tech companies to roll out products and features to attract users. The new AI model, dubbed GPT-4o, can better digest images and video in addition to text, and can interact with people by voice in real time, said Mira Murati, OpenAI’s chief technology officer, on Monday. People can interrupt the new voice feature while talking to it, unlike current voice assistants, and the model is capable of responding close to instantaneously, the company said.

OpenAI executives showed in a livestreamed demonstration how the model could analyze code, translate languages between two speakers or guide users through a basic algebra problem written down on a piece of paper, all seemingly in real-time. The launch of GPT-4o reflects how OpenAI and other startups and tech giants are increasingly seeking to expand their pools of users and bring in money for their generative artificial-intelligence technology after pouring enormous sums of money into computing power and energy to develop their systems. The OpenAI announcement comes a day before the start of Google’s annual developer conference on Tuesday, where it is expected to announce its own new products.

Google, an AI pioneer, has been vying with OpenAI and its partner and backer, Microsoft, for leadership in generative AI. Microsoft wasn’t involved in making GPT-4o. Chief Executive Sam Altman likened the new product to the kind of AI tools typically seen in movies.