A recent beta version of ChatGPT offers a select group of users the ability to make AI their device's new default voice assistant on Android.
This information comes from industry insiders. Mishaal Rahman in X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) who posted a video of himself testing the feature live. According to the post, users can add a shortcut to ChatGPT Assistant, as it is known, directly in the Android Quick Settings panel. Tapping the ChatGPT entry there brings up a new UI overlay on the screen, consisting of a white circle near the bottom of the screen. From there, you give a verbal cue, and after several seconds, the assistant responds with an answer.
Now you can talk to ChatGPT from any screen on your Android device! With the latest ChatGPT beta update, you can now add a shortcut to your Quick Settings panel that opens the ChatGPT Assistant overlay. This overlay can appear on any screen, allowing you to talk to ChatGPT regardless… pic.twitter.com/hHvHGXPYWcJanuary 22, 2024
The clip shows that it takes some time for the AI to give a response: about 15 seconds. During this time, the white circle will display a bubbling animation to indicate that it is generating a response. When responding, the animation becomes more cloud-like. You can also interrupt ChatGPT at any time by simply touching the screen. Doing so turns the circle black.
Setting up
The full onboarding process for the feature is unknown, although 9To5Google states in its report that you'll need to choose a voice when you first launch it. If they like what they hear, they can stick with a particular voice or take a step back to swap it for another. Previews of each voice can also be found on the OpenAI website. They are made up of three male and two female voices. Once everything is resolved, the wizard will start normally with the white circle near the bottom.
To try this update, you will need a subscription to ChatGPT Plus which costs $20 per month. Next, install ChatGPT for Android version 1.2024.017 or .018, whichever is available to you. Go to the Beta Features section in the ChatGPT Settings menu and it should be there ready to be activated. As stated above, only a select group of people will gain access. It is not a guarantee.
Future breach
Apparently the wizard is present in older versions. 9ToGoogle states that the patch is available in ChatGPT beta version 1.2024.010 with limited functionality. They claim that the patch introduces the Quick Settings tile, but not the revamped UI.
Rahman in his post says that no one can set ChatGPT as their default assistant right now. However, lines of code found in a ChatGPT patch from early January suggest this will be possible in the future. We've reached out to OpenAI to ask if there are plans to expand availability of the beta. This story will be updated later.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best ChatGPT extensions for Chrome that everyone should use. There are four in total.
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