A series of reports recently revealed that all major AI companies are struggling with their next-generation models, including OpenAI. Consequently, the expected GPT-5 upgrade for ChatGPT could experience delays. However, all major AI companies continue to release new features for their existing models, including OpenAI.

Rumors have it that the company will soon roll out its first AI agent, which will allow you control computer applications via ChatGPT. The precursor of such a tool is already available in the ChatGPT app for Macwho can view content from some coding apps. However, OpenAI takes advantage of macOS’s built-in features rather than deploying revolutionary AI innovation.

Until then, we have other features we’re excited about. I’m talking about ChatGPT Search, which now appears to be rolling out to free users, and Advanced Voice Mode, which is now coming to the desktop version of the app.

OpenAI announced the latter on late Tuesday. Advanced voice mode was revealed in early May, but it was not available on mobile ChatGPT applications until a few weeks ago. It took some time for OpenAI to be rolled out in some markets, like the EU, where many software innovations fall later than in the US, due to increased pressure from regulators.

Now it looks like OpenAI is ready to bring advanced voice mode to the ChatGPT web app. The company said the feature is rolling out to all paying users.

I’m on ChatGPT Plus, but I don’t see advanced voice mode in the web app. It may take a while to get to where I live in the EU, but it shouldn’t be too long. After all, I finally got Advanced Voice Mode on the iPhone a few weeks ago.

As for ChatGPT Search, OpenAI released it for paid ChatGPT users, including Waitlist Plus, Teams, and SearchGPT users. Next come Enterprise and Edu users, followed by ChatGPT Free users. This is what OpenAI said at the end of October when he brought the ChatGPT search experience outside of SearchGPT tests.

Unlike advanced voice mode, I had access to ChatGPT Search almost immediately. OpenAI offers Edge and Chrome ready extensions that let you make ChatGPT Search your default search engine.

OpenAI has not announced any updates on the availability of ChatGPT Search, but some free users can access it. As you can see in the screenshot above, BGR has verified that ChatGPT Search is operational for at least some US-based users who are not paying for premium ChatGPT plans. This screenshot was taken by our own editor, Zach Epstein, who confirmed that Search has been working for his free account since Tuesday.

Either this is an error or OpenAI is slowly rolling out the feature to free users. When ChatGPT Search first launched, it was briefly available to free users before OpenAI pulled it, so this was clearly an error. This time we might think that ChatGPT Search is intentionally made available to free users.

I can’t access ChatGPT Search unless I’m signed into my Plus account in Europe, but that may be because the rollout is starting in the US. Again, I don’t see widespread reports of ChatGPT Search being available for free users.

Separately, Google just announced a memory feature for Gemini Advanced. This could explain OpenAI’s interest in making some of its new ChatGPT features more widely available.