Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways:
- OpenAI launched ChatGPT customization updates.
- Users can choose chat color and personality.
- All users (even free) can now access Advanced Voice Mode.
OpenAI is having one of its biggest product launch weeks, releasing its highly anticipated open-source models, gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, and GPT-5. Buried within the deluge of the large language models (LLMs) are helpful ChatGPT features that add customization options that could make the ChatGPT experience more enjoyable.
Also: GPT-5 is finally here, and you can access it for free today – no subscription needed
In OpenAI’s Summer Update event on Thursday, the company added the ability to choose a color for ChatGPT chats, choose from new personalities when using the Custom Instructions feature, more easily connect your Google productivity apps, and better interact with Advanced Voice Mode.
Keep reading below for the full overview of the features’ capabilities and how to access them.
ChatGPT chat color options
Starting with perhaps the most self-explanatory feature, you can now choose a color for your chats. This option is available to everyone, but a few exclusive options are available for paid users. While this won’t largely change your productivity within ChatGPT, it can make the experience more enjoyable or better match your aesthetic preferences.
New personalities in Custom Instructions.
Custom Instructions, launched in April 2023, lets users set preferences that tailor how ChatGPT generates responses. Now, OpenAI has launched a research preview of four preset personalities: Cynic, Robot, Listener, and Nerd, available in the Custom Instructions experience. The personalities tweak how ChatGPT interacts with users, giving the chatbot different tones that better match your needs and communication styles. For example, OpenAI said some are concise and professional, while others are a bit sarcastic.
The personalities are available to all users, opt-in, and adjustable anytime in your Customize ChatGPT settings.
More easily connect Gmail and Google Calendar
ChatGPT is only as helpful as the information you feed it, and for that reason, the company recently unveiled connectors that make it easier to give it your internal data. Now, once a user enables the Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts connectors, ChatGPT automatically knows when to call on them in an answer, eliminating the need to manually select them. It is first launching to Pro users early next week.
Also: ChatGPT can no longer tell you to break up with your boyfriend
In the live stream demo, the user asked ChatGPT to let them plan their schedule for the next day, and ChatGPT was able to reference Google Calendar and Gmail to find free time and make suggestions on what to do.
Voice Improvements
Advanced Voice Mode can now better adapt to the user, better understanding the user’s instructions and adjusting to the user’s speaking style in the moment. The biggest update, though, is that it is available to everyone, including free users, for the first time. Paid users will still be able to take advantage of much higher usage limits, so if you rely on it every day like I do, the subscription still makes sense. As a result, OpenAI is retiring Standard Voice Mode in 30 days.
Lastly, Voice will also now be available in custom GPTs.
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