Google is gearing up to enhance its Google Assistant with generative AI capabilities. Notably, a recent report by Android Authority suggests that OpenAI's ChatGPT might be on track to become a native voice assistant on Android, bringing a new player into the AI competition. According to the Android Authority report, the latest release of ChatGPT (version 1.2023.352) unveiled a significant addition: an activity named com.openai.voice.assistant.AssistantActivity. While this feature is currently disabled by default, manually enabling it triggers a distinctive 'swirling animation,' akin to ChatGPT's in-app voice assistant.

OpenAI appears to be working towards improving ChatGPT's accessibility for Android users. The report mentions a new Quick Settings tile in the latest ChatGPT app, designed to initiate the voice assistant mode. Notably, utilizing this feature may require a ChatGPT Plus subscription. The potential implications of ChatGPT becoming the default digital assistant on Android are significant. Users could activate the OpenAI-powered voice assistant by long-pressing the home button or swiping up from the bottom corner. However, customization features, such as creating or responding to hotwords, might be limited due to the need for access to privileged APIs, reserved for trusted pre-installed apps.

OpenAI initially showcased ChatGPT's voice capabilities in a September update last year, highlighting its ability to respond in five distinct voices, created with the assistance of professional voice actors. The unfolding developments indicate that ChatGPT is positioning itself as a formidable contender in the race to redefine the landscape of digital voice assistants.