OpenAI introduces “Santa Mode” to ChatGPT for ho-ho-ho voice chats

On Thursday, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT users can now talk to a simulated version of Santa Claus through the app’s voice mode, using AI to bring a North Pole connection to mobile devices, desktop apps, and web browsers during the holiday season.

The company added Santa’s voice and personality as a preset option in ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode. Users can access Santa by tapping a snowflake icon next to the prompt bar or through voice settings. The feature works on iOS and Android mobile apps, chatgpt.com, and OpenAI’s Windows and MacOS applications. The Santa voice option will remain available to users worldwide until early January.

The conversations with Santa exist as temporary chats that won’t save to chat history or affect the model’s memory. OpenAI designed this limitation specifically for the holiday feature. Keep that in mind, because if you let your kids talk to Santa, the AI simulation won’t remember what kids have told it during previous conversations.

During a livestream for Day 6 of the company’s “12 days of OpenAI” marketing event, an OpenAI employee said that the company will reset each user’s Advanced Voice Mode usage limits one time as a gift, so that even if you’ve used up your Advanced Voice Mode time, you’ll get a chance to talk to Santa.

Video and screen sharing finally come to Advanced Voice Mode

Along with the Santa update, OpenAI announced it is beginning to roll out video and screen sharing capabilities to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, which is a feature the company has teased since the introduction of GPT-4o in May.

The new video and screen sharing tools let users show their surroundings or display content directly rather than describing items or uploading photos. OpenAI says users can activate the features by tapping the voice icon and selecting either the video button or screen sharing option from the menu.

Plus and Pro subscribers in most countries will be able to have real-time video conversations through the mobile app, though users in several European regions including the EU will gain access at a later date. Enterprise and education users can expect the video features in January.