OpenAI Develops AI Voice Assistant As It Chases Google, Apple

In the race to develop artificial intelligence that communicates the way humans do, OpenAI is preparing to demonstrate technology that talks to people—using sound as well as text—and recognizes objects and images. The ChatGPT developer has shown some of these capabilities, which include better logical reasoning than its current products, to some customers, according to two people who have seen the new AI.

The technology is another step in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s quest to ultimately develop a highly responsive AI akin to the virtual assistant in the Spike Jonze film “Her,” and to enable existing voice assistants like Apple’s Siri to be more useful. The company could preview the upgraded AI publicly at an event as soon as Monday, which would help it get ahead of a slew of AI announcements from its rival Google later in the week, one of the people said.