OpenAI is working on making ChatGPT easier to use for Android users, including the addition of a Quick Settings tile to launch the voice assistant mode.
The competition in the artificial intelligence arena is intensifying, as Google is said to be gearing up to integrate generative AI-based features into Google Assistant. Simultaneously, a report from Android Authority hints at OpenAI’s ChatGPT potentially acquiring the functionality to serve as a native voice assistant on Android, indicating a race for advancements in AI capabilities.
According to Android Authority, the recent ChatGPT version 1.2023.352 update, released last month, introduced a new activity labeled com.openai.voice.assistant.AssistantActivity. While this feature is initially disabled, manually enabling it and launching the app triggers a ‘swirling animation,’ reminiscent of the animation observed when utilizing the in-app voice assistant within ChatGPT.
Nevertheless, the report highlights that the new feature might still be in a developmental phase. The ChatGPT app’s manifest currently lacks several essential declarations required to designate ChatGPT as the ‘default digital assistant app.’
OpenAI appears to be focused on enhancing the user experience for Android users as well. According to Android Authority, the most recent ChatGPT app now includes a Quick Settings tile designed to initiate ChatGPT’s voice assistant mode. It’s worth noting that accessing this new feature might be tied to having a ChatGPT Plus subscription.
“What changes could occur if ChatGPT becomes the default digital assistant?”
Enabling ChatGPT as the default digital assistant on Android could empower users to initiate the OpenAI-powered voice assistant with a long press of the home button or a swipe up from the bottom corner. However, it’s important to note that the ChatGPT app may not currently support creating custom hotwords or responding to existing ones. This limitation arises from the necessity of accessing privileged APIs, which are exclusively available to trusted pre-installed apps.
OpenAI introduced ChatGPT’s voice capabilities in a September update last year. The company announced that the generative AI-based chatbot could respond to user queries in five distinct voices, each crafted with the assistance of professional voice actors.
