OpenAI has decided to launch Google IO 2024, which starts tomorrow on May 14, with its own surprise ‘Spring Update’ launch event – and the latest rumors suggest we could be seeing a next-generation AI voice assistant.
The event, which was only announced a few days ago on May 10, will kick off on Monday, May 13 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. For those of you in Australia that equates to 3am AEST on Tuesday 14th May. .
So what will we see? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman quickly debunked rumors that the ChatGPT maker was preparing a new Google-rival search engine. post to X (formerly Twitter) that the launch is “no GPT-5, no search engine.”
But he also tantalizingly added that OpenAI has been “working hard on new things” that “feel like magic to me.” Obviously OpenAI is no stranger to Apple-style launch hype, but some new rumors suggest we’ll get a taste of a new AI assistant with voice power that can also recognize objects and images.
More on those rumors below, but first, here’s how to tune in to an event that will no doubt also be watched by a slightly nervous Google…
How to watch OpenAI’s ChatGPT and GPT-4 event
The OpenAI ‘Spring update’ event will be streamed live on the OpenAI website and also on YouTube at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on Monday 13 May (or 3am AEST on Tuesday 14 May).
We’ve embedded the YouTube placeholder for the event below so you can watch it with us here too. You can set a reminder for the event on YouTube by clicking the “Message me” bell icon. You will then receive an email notification before the event when it is about to start.
While the description of the ‘Spring update’ event sounds somewhat disappointing, stating that OpenAI will “demonstrate some ChatGPT and GPT-4 updates”, the latest rumors predict a sneak peek of something more exciting.
So while it’s unlikely we’ll be able to use the new AI tool immediately after the event, it certainly sounds worth tuning in if you want a glimpse into the future of AI voice assistants.
What can you expect during OpenAI’s ‘Spring Update’ event
Early reports suggested that OpenAI could launch a major Google Search rival to change the way we search for information on the web, but those rumors were dismissed by CEO Sam Altman.
Instead, it looks like we could be getting a taste of a new multi-modal digital AI assistant, according to a new report from The information. The ChatGPT maker is said to be preparing to demo an assistant that “talks to people – both with sound and text – and recognizes objects and images.”
That sounds like the kind of engine that would be ideal for some of the half-baked AI products we’ve probably seen, especially the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin. In other words, a humanoid assistant that could at least bring us one step closer to the virtual assistant in Spike Jonze’s iconic film Her.
But as expected, The Information has reported that the new AI tool will be “too big to run on personal devices.” Instead, expect this to be a cloud-based system that may primarily focus on improving customer service agents rather than helping us in our daily lives.
Either way, we’ll be sure to tune in – and also have the popcorn ready to see how Google responds to Google I/O 2024.