On the sixth day of ’12 days of OpenAI,’ OpenAI announced a major update: video and screen-sharing capabilities in ChatGPT’s advanced voice mode. The feature allows users to engage in real-time visual and audio interactions with ChatGPT, making conversations more interactive and functional.
Starting today, the rollout will gradually reach all users, including Plus and Pro subscribers, with full availability expected early next year for enterprise and educational plans.
The announcement came after OpenAI acknowledged a brief outage the previous day, promising detailed follow-ups while swiftly resuming operations. “We know you depend on us, and we take this very seriously,” said Kevin Weill, OpenAI’s product lead.
More Interactive ChatGPT
The newly introduced features let users share their screens and video feed while engaging in natural conversations with ChatGPT.
Users can troubleshoot issues, learn new skills, or collaborate on tasks with real-time visual support. Demonstrations during the livestream included making pour-over coffee with ChatGPT providing step-by-step guidance via video.
Rowan Zellers, a researcher at OpenAI, explained, “Now you can chat with ChatGPT over video and voice together in real-time.” The feature also includes screen-sharing capabilities, allowing users to get instant help for tasks such as crafting responses, troubleshooting code, or reviewing presentations.
A Festive Twist: Santa Joins ChatGPT
Adding a touch of holiday fun, OpenAI introduced a Santa Mode within ChatGPT. Users can now interact with Santa in real-time, asking him about his favorite reindeer, Christmas traditions, or even how to maintain a fluffy beard. The feature, accessible via a snowflake icon, resets advanced voice usage limits for the month, ensuring everyone gets a chance to experience Santa’s jolly presence.
Say ho ho ho to Santa in Voice Mode 🎅
Santa is rolling out today to everyone across all ChatGPT platforms and is available until the end of the month…then he will retire back to the North Pole. pic.twitter.com/NVS9bRok4r
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) December 12, 2024
During the demo, Santa quipped, “My favorite traditions is when children hang their stockings by the fireplace—it’s a moment filled with magic and anticipation.” The lighthearted addition brings a festive spirit to ChatGPT’s growing functionality.
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Santa To Drive Subscriptions
“I fully expect Santa Mode to drive more subscriptions than o1 and I’m at peace with this,” said Noam Brown, researcher at OpenAI. That makes sense as o1 is currently priced at $200.
OpenAI’s announcement comes amid intense competition in the AI space. Google recently released Gemini 2, its advanced multimodal model, while Amazon launched Nova.
Addressing the industry buzz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman hinted at bigger updates on the horizon. “AGI is in the air,” he posted cryptically, fueling speculation about upcoming releases like GPT-4.5 or GPT-5. These developments suggest that OpenAI isn’t just playing catch-up—it’s setting the stage for what’s next.
