On the 10th day of its “12 Days of OpenAI” event, the company revealed an 800 number (1-800-ChatGPT) that allows anyone in the U.S. with a phone line to interact with the AI through Advanced Voice Mode.
OpenAI’s chief product officer, Kevin Weil, explained during a live stream, “Our goal is to make artificial general intelligence beneficial for all of humanity, and part of that involves making it as accessible as possible.” In a live demonstration, the team called the chatbot to inquire about an architectural landmark along the 280 freeway in Hillsborough, California. The AI correctly identified the structure as the famous “Flintstones House” and answered follow-up questions.
This feature is currently available to U.S. users without requiring an OpenAI account, though you’re limited to 15 minutes of interaction. The experience is similar to using Advanced Voice Mode on mobile devices, where you can ask for information, request translations, or hear a joke, among other tasks.
OpenAI has been expanding access to its chatbot, which was initially available only via its website. Now, it’s accessible through desktop apps for Apple and Windows, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android. There’s no word yet on when the AI might be available through Morse code or semaphore.
With the “12 Days” event almost complete, OpenAI has introduced several new models, products, and features, including the o1 reasoning model, the Sora video generator, Projects for ChatGPT, updates to the Canvas feature, a $200/month Pro subscription, and various tools for developers.
