OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has released a new AI model known as GPT-4o, which is capable of interacting with the environment using audio, visual, and textual inputs in real-time. Announced on Monday, May 13, 2024, by the Microsoft-supported company, this AI technology aims to facilitate a more natural interaction between humans and computers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described GPT-4o as a highly responsive and intuitive interface, reacting to queries in under a third of a second, which is comparable to human response times.

The AI utilizes smartphones' cameras and microphones to understand its surroundings and communicates using a natural voice through speakers. Despite some functional limitations like language translation errors and mispronunciations, OpenAI will offer GPT-4o for free and plans continual updates to enhance its performance.

Ahead of its release, OpenAI conducted rigorous testing to address cybersecurity and psychological safety, involving over 70 external experts to identify and mitigate any potential risks. This launch closely precedes Google's I/O event, highlighting the increasing integration of AI in consumer technology.