ChatGPT, the text-generating AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, has become widely popular since its launch in November 2022. Originally designed to assist with writing essays and code using short text prompts, ChatGPT is now used by over 92% of Fortune 500 companies.
This growth has propelled OpenAI to new heights of success, making it one of the most talked-about companies recently. The recent partnership with Apple for their upcoming generative AI offering, Apple Intelligence, has further solidified OpenAI’s position in the AI race.
In 2024, OpenAI introduced GPT-4o, their flagship omni model for ChatGPT. GPT-4o is now the default free model and includes voice and vision capabilities. Following demos of GPT-4o, OpenAI decided to pause the use of one of its voices, Sky, due to allegations of mimicking Scarlett Johansson’s voice in the movie “Her.”
OpenAI is currently facing various internal issues, including significant exits like the departure of co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, as well as the dissolution of its Superalignment team. Additionally, OpenAI is caught in a legal battle with Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers, such as the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune, for alleged copyright infringement, following a similar lawsuit filed by The New York Times last year.
Timeline of Recent ChatGPT Updates
June 2024
OpenAI Delays ChatGPT’s New Voice Mode
OpenAI planned to launch its Voice Mode feature for ChatGPT Plus users in June but had to postpone it to July due to lingering issues. The full launch may be delayed until fall, depending on internal safety and reliability checks.
ChatGPT Releases Mac App
ChatGPT for macOS is now available, allowing users to access ChatGPT with a simple keyboard combination. Users can upload files, interact with ChatGPT via voice, and search through past conversations.
Apple Integrates ChatGPT into Its Apps
Apple announced the integration of ChatGPT into Siri and other first-party apps, powered by GPT-4o. This integration will be available on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, with exclusive features for paying ChatGPT users on Apple devices.
House Oversight Subcommittee Invites Scarlett Johansson
Actress Scarlett Johansson has been invited to testify about OpenAI’s Sky voice controversy at a hearing for the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, addressing concerns around deepfakes.
ChatGPT Experiences Two Outages
ChatGPT faced two outages in a single day, one lasting for several hours and another ongoing later in the day. Additional AI models, Claude and Perplexity from Anthropic, also experienced issues.
May 2024
The Atlantic and Vox Media Partner with OpenAI
The Atlantic and Vox Media have announced content licensing and product partnerships with OpenAI. The collaborations will allow ChatGPT to incorporate content from these publishers, featuring citations and articles in responses.
