OpenAI, the developer behind the popular ChatGPT, is making strides into the voice assistant arena with its latest innovation, the Voice Engine technology. The company recently unveiled this groundbreaking advancement, which has been officially trademarked as ChatGPT with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
According to OpenAI, the Voice Engine technology has the remarkable ability to replicate a person’s voice with just a mere 15 seconds of recorded speech. While the technology is set to undergo testing with select individuals, OpenAI has made it clear that they will not be releasing it to the public at this time due to concerns over potential misuse.
In a statement, the San Francisco-based company emphasized the significant risks associated with generating speech that closely resembles real human voices, especially in light of the upcoming election year. As a precautionary measure, OpenAI is collaborating with various stakeholders from government, media, entertainment, education, and civil society sectors to gather feedback and ensure responsible development of the Voice Engine technology.
The decision to withhold public release comes amidst reports of a series of robocalls in New Hampshire featuring an AI-generated voice resembling President Joe Biden’s, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. Although there are existing voice cloning technologies available to the public, OpenAI is taking a proactive approach to address potential misuse of its Voice Engine technology.
To mitigate risks, OpenAI has implemented safety measures such as watermarking to trace the source of generated audio and ongoing monitoring of its usage. Testers of the early Voice Engine version have pledged not to impersonate individuals without consent and to disclose when voices are AI-generated, underscoring OpenAI’s commitment to ethical AI development.
Known for its innovative chatbot and image-generator DALL-E, OpenAI’s cautious approach to unveiling new technologies like the Voice Engine reflects a conscientious effort to prioritize safety and responsible use in an era of rapidly advancing AI capabilities.
