OpenAI is currently accelerating the development of audio artificial intelligence technology to fully prepare for its upcoming voice-first smart devices. According to a report from The Information, in the past two months, OpenAI has integrated multiple engineering, product, and research teams to focus more intensively on audio interaction technology. The team aims to improve the conversational performance and response speed of voice AI models, providing users with a smoother communication experience.

Insiders revealed that current voice dialogue models still cannot match text models in terms of accuracy and response speed. Therefore, OpenAI is accelerating the upgrade of its architecture and plans to release a new audio model in the first quarter of 2026. The new model will have more natural and emotionally expressive voice output capabilities and will better handle real-time interruptions and interactive scenarios in conversations.

image.png

This technical upgrade is not only to improve the existing voice experience but is also closely related to OpenAI's upcoming voice-first personal devices. According to reports, this device is expected to be launched in about a year and may not be a single product, but a series of devices, including screenless smart glasses, voice assistants with minimal screens, and other forms. The design philosophy of these devices is to reduce users' reliance on screens and enhance the overall user experience through natural voice communication.

Notably, the new audio model will also support a "listen-and-speak" feature, allowing the device to respond before the user finishes speaking, thus achieving a smoother real-time interaction experience. This innovation is still uncommon in most voice AI products today.

In summary, OpenAI is accelerating toward a future where "voice is the core interface." This is not only a strategic adjustment in its own product development but also a proactive response from the tech industry to the shift in interaction modes.