Android users might soon be able to set ChatGPT as the default digital assistant app on their smartphones. Right now, if ChatGPT users need to ask the AI chatbot a question, they either need to head to the ChatGPT website or the ChatGPT app on their smartphone. This could change in the future as OpenAI seems to be working on adding the ability to set ChatGPT as the default assistant on Android. This means users will be able to pull up ChatGPT in the same way as Google Assistant. Let’s take a look at the latest ChatGPT development for Android users.
ChatGPT Could Replace Google Assistant in the Future
Notably, Android —as an open-source platform— has allowed third-party assistant apps to replace Google Assistant as the default assistant for a while. It means users were able to pull up their favourite digital assistant app with simple gestures like the long press of the power button or a swipe gesture. To keep Google Assistant still accessible, the company launched a dedicated app that enabled more accessible shortcuts.
It seems that OpenAI is working on adding the default digital assistant app functionality to its LLM – ChatGPT. Android Authority has spotted a string of code in the latest version of the ChatCPT app – com.openai.voice.assistant.AssistantActivity. The code is designed to trigger an overlay implying support for voice input just like Google Assistant. However, the feature is not fully functional yet and is not enabled by default.
There are other bits of code implying default assistant support for the ChatGPT app. However, all of these codes are unfinished at this point.
The report goes on to mention that the latest ChatGPT app also adds yet another method to easily access the LLM on Android. The latest version of the ChatGPT app adds a Quick Settings tile, which is disabled by default. This tile is intended to serve as a shortcut to launch ChatGPT in an assistant mode.
While it’s not known when the feature will be available, the code does reveal that the feature will require a ChatGPT Plus subscription. However, Android Authority reports that even with an active subscription, they were unable to get the default assistant functionality or Quick Settings tile to work. As of now it’s not known when the functionality will roll out but we can expect it to be soon.
If OpenAI does bring this kind of functionality to Android phones in the future, it could pose a significant challenge for Google Assistant. It would also means that more users will be able to access chatbot in a convenient way on their smartphones, further threatening Google’s domination of the space.
