OpenAI has recently showcased an advanced version of ChatGPT’s Voice mode in a new demo, stirring excitement about its potential integration with Apple’s Siri. This demonstration, featuring expressive voices and smooth conversational flow, hints at significant upgrades for AI interactions.

The New Demo

The latest demo highlights ChatGPT’s ability to deliver highly expressive and natural-sounding voices. In the video, ChatGPT provides voices for a “majestic lion” and a mouse in a storytelling scenario, demonstrating not only the quality of the voices but also the ease of interrupting and managing the conversation flow. Notably, there is minimal latency, making the interaction seamless and more engaging.

The Scarlett Johansson Controversy

Earlier this year, OpenAI faced criticism from actress Scarlett Johansson due to the similarity of ChatGPT’s Sky voice to her character in the movie “Her.” Despite this controversy, OpenAI has continued to refine and promote its Voice mode, as seen in this recent demo.

Anticipated Partnership with Apple

Adding to the excitement, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is expected to announce a new partnership with OpenAI at the WWDC 2024 on June 10. This collaboration could see Siri infused with ChatGPT’s AI, significantly enhancing Siri’s capabilities. The details of how OpenAI’s technology will be integrated into iOS 18 remain unclear, but the potential for a more conversational and intelligent Siri is promising.

Short- to Medium-Term Relationship

Dag Kittlaus, co-founder of Siri, suggests that the partnership between Apple and OpenAI might be a “short- to medium-term relationship” while Apple works on catching up in the AI space. Nonetheless, the integration of ChatGPT’s technology could provide a substantial boost to Siri’s functionality, particularly for off-device queries.

Read also: The ChatGPT Outage: A Comprehensive Breakdown

On-Device vs. Off-Device Processing

While Apple has shifted Siri’s audio processing to be on-device by default since iOS 15, allowing it to function without an internet connection, the potential integration of ChatGPT could see Siri leaning on off-device processing for more complex queries. This approach would leverage OpenAI’s strengths while maintaining the on-device capabilities that enhance privacy and functionality.

Historical Context

This wouldn’t be the first time Apple has integrated third-party software into iOS. For instance, the original iPhone came with a pre-installed YouTube app, which was later removed once Google developed its own version. By outsourcing AI chatbot capabilities, Apple can benefit from OpenAI’s technology while distancing itself from any associated inaccuracies.

Looking Ahead

As we approach WWDC 2024, the tech community is eagerly awaiting more details on how Apple plans to weave OpenAI’s advancements into iOS and Siri. If the integration is as seamless as the demo suggests, we could be on the brink of a new era for AI-driven voice assistants.

For more details, check out the full article on TechRadar.