🔥 Top AI voicebot you can use for free!

Hello AInauts,

Holy GPT, last week was a real rollercoaster! First Elon launched Grok 3, then Anthropic amazed everyone with Claude Sonnet 3.7, and as if that wasn't enough, Papa Sam quickly followed it up with GPT 4.5 (and released the Sora video model for ChatGPT Plus users in the EU).

Our weekend? Speed dating in the digital rabbit hole with voice chatbots trying to outdo each other - with results between, wow! and what?

This is what we have in store for you today:

• 🐳 ChatGPT 4.5: OpenAI's new giant in a reality check

• 🔥 Voice chatbot comparison

• 💎 AI fun: crypto was yesterday, tokens are the new flex

Here we go!

🐳 ChatGPT 4.5: OpenAI's new giant in a reality check

Is OpenAI's latest model really the promised game-changer? While Sam Altman raves about "AGI moments", we wonder if it's just an overpriced upgrade with more vibes than substance.

The colossus with more brains and more gut feeling

The facts in a nutshell:

• GPT-4.5 (codename "Orion") is the largest and most computationally intensive model to date, with about 10x more training effort than GPT-4.

• GPT-4.5 is not a reasoning model. The focus is on emotional intelligence, human-like conversations, creativity and broad general knowledge, not on deep logical thinking. Here is the popular "Draw me a unicorn" test:

• A detailed benchmark analysis reveals a differentiated picture. Conclusion: Not bad, but not exactly mind-blowing either.

• The hallucination rate fell from 61.8% to "only" 37.1%. Progress, but let's be honest: if your assistant is still telling you nonsense more than a third of the time, that's not exactly reassuring ...

• The model can currently only be used with the 200-dollar Pro account. It will soon also be rolled out for ChatGPT Plus users.

• It supports uploads and the canvas tool, but a realistic two-way voice function is missing so far - a surprising shortcoming for a model that relies on natural conversation.

• What is really hefty, however, is the API price: for one million tokens (about 750,000 words), the input costs $75 and the output $150. For comparison: GPT-4o only costs $2.50, or $10! That's a 30-fold or 15-fold difference - so expensive that almost nobody will use it.

• Also interesting: The knowledge cutoff is October 2023 - why do you think? Probably because the Internet is already "contaminated" with ChatGPT content.

Our take: That was meh...

The reactions on Twitter, sorry, X are a mix of euphoria, indifference and disappointment. GPT-4.5 is neither the promised breakthrough nor a complete flop - but it falls well short of the high expectations.

The OpenAI demo was also great cinema, but not in a positive way... The first use case: "UGHHH! My boyfriend canceled on me again!!! Text me that I HATE HIM!!!!" Really?

🔥 The big voice chatbot comparison

The AI influencers on X outdo each other with superlatives about the new voice model from sesame.com. One journalist even said it was the first voice assistant he wanted to talk to more.

And indeed, it feels like you're talking to a real person!

Click here, try it out - or just listen in:

Does Sesame now want to compete with ChatGPT and the like? No, because the model is soon to be made available as open source (!). Instead, Sesame has secured funding from a16z to build a voice companion for a pair of glasses. Until then, we'll settle for Maya and Miles - really well done!

What are the best voice bots?

Interaction with voice is becoming increasingly important, and we have already reported several times on how we use the ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode together with our Ray-Ban Glasses. Voicebots are also being used more and more as psychologists.

But what other alternatives are there? To be honest, we've also lost track a little - and have done some research accordingly.

ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode: The industry standard with limits

• ChatGPT really broke down the barriers between man and machine with the introduction of Advanced Voice Mode last year.

• Lots of languages, natural voices, smooth conversations, low latency, mid-sentence interruptions - it's great! You can also switch to text-based chat mode and then continue in voice mode again.

• Advanced voice mode has also recently become available for free users - but unfortunately it is very limited. Even Plus subscribers are currently limited to 45–60 minutes - but at least they have video and screen sharing. The memory (context) is also good.

• As soon as the limit has been reached, the regular voice mode can be used.

• Discussions on adult topics are only possible with jailbreaks.

Verdict: Great voice quality, and if you already have a ChatGPT Plus subscription, this is definitely a good option.

Microsoft Copilot Voice: The generous democratizer

• Microsoft has just released Copilot Voice Mode with unlimited free access for all users (Microsoft login required).

• Copilot Voice offers four different voices in 40 languages. Super handy if you're traveling or want to learn a new language. Bonus: you can set the speed to 1.5x, and soon there will also be characters.

• You can download the app for mobile or desktop here. If you use the Edge browser, the Voice Copilot is also available directly from there.

• You also have unlimited access to the o1 model via the "Think Deeper" button, which you pay for with OpenAI - really cool!

Conclusion: The best free and unlimited alternative to ChatGPT, especially if you are a chatterbox. Integrates perfectly into the Microsoft world.

Google Gemini & NotebookLM: No limits and available everywhere

• Google Gemini Voice Mode can be used free of charge on Android and iPhone - but not on the desktop. Now also with memory for all users.

• You need to use Google AI Studio for this. The live feature is the ideal assistant for everything you do on screen (be sure to try it out!).

• Gemini can also be used free of charge without restriction and speaks over 40 languages.

• If you want to chat specifically with content, then NotebookLM is also a good alternative (our playbook with prompts here).

• You can create a podcast from the content and then jump right in and philosophize with the hosts/experts about the content. Btw, there will also be a new mindmap feature soon.

Conclusion: Similar range of functions to Microsoft Co-Pilot, free and unlimited, integrates ideally into the Google world.

Grok 3 Voice Mode: Wild, uncensored, paid & only on the iPhone

• Grok 3, Elon Musk's xAI answer to ChatGPT, takes a radically different approach. It deliberately avoids censorship and allows discussions on adult topics - you can chat with it here.

• At its heart are its various personality modes, including the "Unhinged" mode, which swears and insults, but can also shout. Other modes include "Storyteller", "Romantic", "Meditation", "Conspiracy" (who likes to talk about conspiracy theories, UFOs and Bigfoot), "Unlicensed Therapist", "Grok Doc", "Sexy" (labeled "18+") and "Professor".

• The quality still lags behind that of ChatGPT, Grok often repeats himself and gets stuck in loops - and only speaks English for the time being.

Conclusion: If you're looking for an English-language voice bot with rough edges that also tells you where to go, then Grok is the right choice for you …

Other providers we have on our radar

• Alexa+ - Amazon has just introduced an upgrade, powered by ElevenLabs

• ElevenLabs Agents - you can use them to build your own voice assistants

• AI Friends - you can also talk to Replika and Character.ai

• Meta AI Voice - the voice chat is available on WhatsApp, Insta and Facebook - but it was awkward to use in our tests ...

Our take: You're spoiled for choice

The landscape of voice chatbots shows clear differences in quality, availability and degree of freedom.

The choice ultimately depends on what is most important to you:

👉 If you want maximum quality: ChatGPT or Sesame.
👉 If you're looking for something free with no time limit: Microsoft Copilot & Gemini.
👉 If you want uncensored conversations: Grok 3.

P.S. And as long as the bots still talk in a language we humans can understand, it's all good …

💎 AI-Fun: Crypto was yesterday, tokens are the new flex

Investing? Hodling? No, forget Bitcoin - with GPT 4.5, the only thing that counts is how many tokens you can afford.

We made it! But no need to be sad. The AInauts will be back soon, with new stuff for you.

Reto & Fabian from the AInauts

P.S.: Follow us on social media - that motivates us to keep going 😁!
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