The buzzing world of artificial intelligence is currently experiencing heartbreak, as legions of lonely OpenAI fans find themselves stood up by the highly anticipated “Her.” The company had first teased their expressive and flirtatious Voice Mode assistant for ChatGPT back in May, generating a whirlwind of excitement. This feature was expected to engage in bubbly, real-time conversations and even read facial expressions. Initially planned for an alpha test release to a select group of paid ChatGPT Plus subscribers by June, it seems the wait is far from over.
In a recent announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter), OpenAI disclosed that its Voice Mode needs an additional month to meet their high standards for launching. A wider roll-out to all Plus subscribers is now slated for the fall. This delay has sparked controversy, leaving many to question the reasons behind it. OpenAI has cited typical reasons, such as improving the user experience and preparing their infrastructure for the influx of millions of users who will eventually engage with Voice Mode. However, one reason mentioned could cause some raised eyebrows: the need to improve the model’s ability to detect and refuse certain content. This suggests that the Voice Mode might be prone to some unsavory behaviors, raising concerns about deeper safety issues or “Alignment” problems, as phrased in AI industry jargon.
The delay has been met with mixed reactions. Some subscribers, who had eagerly paid for the ChatGPT Plus subscription based on OpenAI’s initial promise of Voice Mode arriving within weeks, are feeling duped. The term “rug pull” has been tossed around in frustration. There are also murmurs that the promising demos showcased in May might have been exaggerated, leading some to question the credibility of OpenAI’s previews. Amid this skepticism, the tech community has not shied away from mocking OpenAI’s failure to deliver the product on time.
This setback places OpenAI in an unenviable position. The company was already dealing with controversy just last month, related to one of the voices for Voice Mode. OpenAI had to remove the voice after a public backlash, which didn’t do them any favors in terms of public relations. With this latest delay, apparently unrelated to the previous PR disaster, OpenAI has set itself up for even further scrutiny, leaving fans even more disappointed.
As OpenAI navigates these turbulent waters, one thing is clear: the stakes are high. The promise of a transformative AI assistant that can engage in real-time conversations and understand facial expressions is groundbreaking. However, with lofty promises come lofty expectations. OpenAI must now balance the excitement they’ve generated with the reality of delivering a safe, reliable, and engaging product. The AI community and eager fans will be closely watching, hoping that this delay is just a minor hiccup on the road to innovation.