

OpenAI has launched the official ChatGPT app for Mac, offering a seamless desktop experience without needing a web browser. The app includes a system-wide keyboard shortcut, Option + Space, for instant access to ChatGPT, significantly increasing usage for Mac users. Additionally, the app supports Shortcuts from iOS, allowing actions like "Ask ChatGPT" and "Start voice conversation with ChatGPT" to be utilized on macOS, enhancing the voice assistant capabilities on the desktop.

To optimize the Start voice conversation with ChatGPT shortcut for Mac usage, the only tweak needed was to include it in the menu bar folder and assign Control + Space as the keyboard shortcut to run the action. Additionally, an icon can be added to the Dock for initiating a voice conversation. The shortcut even works when the ChatGPT Mac app is closed.

The potential use of ChatGPT as a voice assistant on Mac is seen as an extension and enhancement of its capabilities already utilized on iOS devices. On iOS, ChatGPT has been employed to create a generative AI version of Siri, demonstrating its utility as a voice assistant4. This functionality is being transitioned to Mac, where it is expected to augment the desktop experience by integrating similar voice assistant features.
The key difference lies in the integration and accessibility adjustments specific to Mac usage. For instance, the Mac version allows users to include the voice assistant feature in the menu bar and assign a system-wide keyboard shortcut (Control + Space) for ease of access, even when the ChatGPT app is not actively open125. This suggests a deeper level of integration and a potentially more seamless user experience on Mac compared to iOS.
Moreover, the expansion to Mac includes potential for future enhancements with OpenAI's ongoing developments, such as the anticipated improvements in Siri through collaborations with OpenAI in upcoming iOS and macOS updates. This indicates a broader strategy to enhance voice assistant capabilities across Apple devices, leveraging AI advancements for more integrated and intuitive user interactions.