Photo credit: venturebeat.com
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Although I have spent a significant part of my career as a tech journalist and have eagerly explored various innovations in personal technology, I must admit that I have never found voice assistants to be particularly useful for my everyday tasks.
This sentiment stems partly from my experiences with the technology, which has historically felt cumbersome. Apple introduced Siri in 2011, pushing the envelope for voice interaction, followed by the launch of the Amazon Echo and Alexa in 2014. While I experimented with both, I ultimately discontinued their use after a few weeks due to frequent frustrations with the interaction process, such as needing to pause before speaking or often repeating myself.
I recognize that I am not the only one who feels this way; there have been countless articles documenting the limitations of these early voice assistants over the years.
However, a transformative shift occurred with the introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, particularly with its Advanced Voice Mode, which became available in September 2024 after several delays.
Many users have praised OpenAI’s ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode for its sophistication, enabling it to search the web for information, engage in comprehensive dialogues, analyze images, and seamlessly adapt to interruptions, allowing for a flow reminiscent of natural human conversation.
Recently, OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman highlighted the integration of the Advanced Voice Mode with Apple’s new action button on their iPhone models, offering a smoother way for users to activate voice interaction with a single click.
While I have already utilized the Advanced Voice Mode as a customizable widget on my iPhone Lock Screen, activating it through the physical Action Button appears to be a more efficient solution that requires minimal effort. After enabling this, I hope to engage with this impressive technology more frequently. Here’s a guide on how to set it up:
You Need a Newer iPhone, from 15 Pro and Up
The Action Button is a new physical feature on the left side of newer iPhones, positioned above the volume control buttons.
When you set up an iPhone model that runs iOS 18 or later, you will encounter an option during the setup process to designate a function for the Action Button, which comes pre-set to silencing ringer and notification sounds.
If you’ve already configured your device without selecting an option, there’s no need to worry. You can still make adjustments afterward. Here’s how:
Download the Official ChatGPT iOS App from the App Store
You can find it here. Free users of ChatGPT can access the app, though there is a variable monthly limit on interactions with Advanced Voice Mode. Subscriptions to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, and Edu — starting at $20 a month — come with significantly higher or unlimited access to this feature.
After installing the ChatGPT app, you can proceed to the next step.
Go to ‘Settings’ to Re-Assign the iPhone Action Button
Start by tapping the “Settings” gear icon on your home screen. Next, scroll down to the second section of options, where “Action Button” will be the third choice below “General” and “Accessibility.” Tap on it.
This action will lead you to the settings for the Action Button, presenting a screen where you can navigate through various options for customizing what the button will do.
Swipe left to explore the options until you find “Shortcut” (it was the ninth option for me). Tap on the up/down arrow selector below the “Shortcut” text, which opens another selection screen showcasing a range of Shortcuts similar to those available in the Apple Shortcuts app.
Scroll past the “Get Started” section and any custom shortcuts you’ve created. You will see a list of third-party app icons that provide shortcuts. Look for the ChatGPT iOS app and tap on it.
You will then see a new selection screen with various actions available within the ChatGPT app. Select the one labeled “Start voice conversation,” indicated by a small headphones icon.
This selection will return you to the main Action Button assignment screen, where “Shortcut” will still be visible, now with “Start Voice Conversation” listed as the selected action.
After this configuration, close the Settings app by swiping up and then long-press the physical Action Button. This should activate the familiar Advanced Voice Mode screen with a blue circle indicating the voice assistant is ready. Begin your conversation as soon as you see this circle!
If you also wish to customize your iPhone Lock Screen for easy access to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, that process is straightforward as well. Here’s how:
Ensure you have downloaded the ChatGPT iOS app. Tap to wake your phone and long-press the time displayed at the top. This action will bring you to the Lock Screen and Wallpaper customization options.
Select “Customize,” followed by “Lock Screen.” Your iPhone will now display an editable version of your Lock Screen where you can add various widgets.
Tap the “Add Widgets” option, which will present numerous choices from different apps, including the ChatGPT iOS app icon featuring a headphone symbol. Select this icon, and it will appear in the “shelf” on your Lock Screen where you can position it alongside other widgets you may have added (like a Weather widget, for example).
And that’s it! Enjoy your voice interactions with ChatGPT and a prosperous New Year.
Source
venturebeat.com