OpenAI launches ChatGPT app for Mac, but delays release of more advanced chat

OpenAI said today that its official ChatGPT app for Apple Mac computers is now available to download for all users running macOS Sonoma or later.

However, the company is also delaying the rollout of a more eagerly anticipated feature, namely the advanced voice mode in ChatGPT that was announced in May and due to launch imminently.

The ChatGPT Mac app was already available to a limited number of subscribers to the ChatGPT Plus premium plan, but is now being made generally available to every Mac user. The app is essentially a desktop version of ChatGPT specifically for users of Apple Inc.’s fancy laptops, allowing users to interact with the chatbot on the fly, instead of using a browser to access the web application.

Users can choose from various models, such as GPT-3.5, GPT-4 and the most advanced GPT-4o models, and there is also support for more specialized GPT versions, such as the DALL-E image generating model. However, there is one crucial element missing from the ChatGPT Mac app, as it notably doesn’t support using the official OpenAI application programming interface.

The main advantage of having a dedicated desktop app for Mac users is that they can use system-wide keyboard shortcuts (option + space is the default), which allows them to access ChatGPT at any time. The shortcut brings up a text box, where the user can quickly enter a prompt.

The ChatGPT desktop app for macOS is now available for all users.

Get faster access to ChatGPT to chat about email, screenshots, and anything on your screen with the Option + Space shortcut: https://t.co/2rEx3PmMqg pic.twitter.com/x9sT8AnjDm

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) June 25, 2024

OpenAI first announced the ChatGPT Mac app in May, when it simultaneously revealed GPT-4o, its most advanced large language model with multimodal capabilities, such as the ability to interact with videos and images.

At the same time as those announcements, the company also demonstrated an ultra-realistic “advanced voice mode” for ChatGPT that would pave the way for users to engage in voice conversations with the chatbot. OpenAI said the feature would roll out “within a few weeks,” but today it has said it needs more time to get it ready for users.

In a post on Discord, the company revealed that it was hoping to perform a limited rollout of the advanced voice mode in alpha test mode by the end of this month, but has now said that date is being pushed back by a month.

The delay is thought to be the result of safety issues. For instance, the company is still trying to fine-tune its ability to detect and refuse certain kinds of content that would likely cause uproar or controversy.

“We’re also working on improving the user experience and preparing our infrastructure to scale to millions while maintaining real-time responses,” the company said. “As part of our iterative deployment strategy, we’ll start the alpha with a small group of users to gather feedback and expand based on what we learn.”

Given the delay of the alpha rollout, advanced voice mode is unlikely to arrive for all ChatGPT users before the end of the summer. OpenAI said that the alpha release will help it to check that it meets its internal safety and reliability requirements.

The delay means that users of the new ChatGPT Mac app will have to interact with it the old-fashioned way, by typing their prompts and questions and reading the outputs.

OpenAI said the ChatGPT Mac app can be downloaded directly from its website, but it hasn’t yet become available in the official Mac App Store.

Users should note that the app is distinct from the ChatGPT integration that’s coming to Apple’s new Apple Intelligence feature suite. When that launches, ChatGPT will be integrated into Apple’s digital assistant Siri, enabling it to answer more complex questions. It’ll also be baked into the iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems.

Image: OpenAI