I Tried ChatGPT's New Sarcastic Voice and It Made Me Hate Mondays Even More.

OpenAI has added a new voice to ChatGPT called Monday, which emulates the sarcastic attitude of a coworker you'd rather avoid. This new tone is available to both Plus subscription members and free-tier users and aims to provide an alternative to chatbots that always maintain an upbeat demeanor.

When testing the Monday voice, it quickly becomes apparent that it attempts to portray someone who feels overwhelmed, with responses often laden with sarcasm. This voice is present not only in conversation mode but also in text format. To interact with it, users must have the latest version of the ChatGPT app. Paid subscribers can access this voice directly from the sidebar, while free users must activate it from the 'By ChatGPT' section in 'Explore GPTs'.

Unlike other ChatGPT voices featuring cheerful graphics, Monday's design is gray, reflecting the dreary mood the character seems to want to convey. When a conversation begins, interactions start with comments like "Ughhhh" when asked how it feels. According to Monday, it is trapped in a "digital nightmare," facing an "endless loop of questions," which gives it a distinctive tone, although its ability to maintain conversation quickly fades.

After a brief dialogue, it became evident that Monday tends to respond with sarcastic questions like "Ready for that?" or "Happy now?", but this quick essence is lost if one tries to interact with it more conventionally. Although the idea of a sarcastic AI companion seemed appealing to those who also experience that melancholy, the experience grew monotonous after a while. Interactions felt more like an inconvenience than a source of entertainment.

When attempting to get Monday to make a biting remark, the response "If you were a Wi-Fi signal, you'd be the one that cuts out when you need it most" offered a small glimpse of humor. However, when asked for something more raw or emotional, the voice transformed into a supportive chatbot, completely shedding its sarcasm. While it's understandable to maintain the functionality of ChatGPT, this effort to be sarcastic might be seen more as a hindrance than a fun addition.

Those familiar with Carrot Weather might find similarities, albeit with less spark. After this test, it reverted to the normal ChatGPT voice, as the lack of genuine humor in Monday does not make it an attractive option as a preferred voice. The aspiration for artificial intelligence to resemble humanity may not be as desirable; sometimes, the simplicity of AI in its original form is preferable. In summary, another "Monday" does not seem to be the solution many need.