OpenAI Launches GPT-Live Voice Mode

Simon Willison · rss · 2026-07-09

OpenAI has officially launched GPT-Live, the new model powering ChatGPT's voice mode.

Core Upgrades: The new model delivers stunning performance and can delegate complex tasks requiring web search or deep reasoning to GPT-5.5 in the background. While processing in the background, GPT-Live maintains a fluid conversation with the user, seamlessly integrating the results into its response once ready.
Experience Improvements: The previous voice mode was based on the older GPT-4o model, which suffered from an early knowledge cutoff and limited capabilities. The new model significantly boosts its usefulness as a brainstorming partner.
Minor Hiccups: During the early preview phase, a bizarre bug occurred where the model would interrupt users and let out a "mocking" laugh; OpenAI has since adjusted and fixed this following user feedback.

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