ChatGPT now lets anyone talk to it out loud, for free

ChatGPT's voice chat is now open to everyone. You can talk to OpenAI's chatbot out loud and have a back-and-forth conversation, with no paid plan needed.

Until now, the feature was limited to paying ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users, and only on iPhone or iPad. Now it is available to all users, including people who do not pay. The setup steps cover both iPhone and Android.

How to start

• Update the ChatGPT app in the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Tap the headphones icon on the right, near the message field.
• Tap the blue "Choose a Voice" button.
• Pick one of five voices: Breeze, Ember, Cove, Juniper or Sky.
• Start talking when ChatGPT is listening.

The whole setup takes about three minutes. If you find typing slow or awkward on a small screen, this gives you another way to ask questions.

What is not known

The report does not say whether free accounts have any limits on voice chat. It also does not say whether free users get everything paid users do, or how quickly the update will reach every phone. If you do not see the headphones icon, check for an app update first.