OpenAI introduces Santa Mode to do what o1 Couldn’t

On the sixth day of ‘12 Days of OpenAI,’ OpenAI announced a major update: video and screen-sharing capabilities in ChatGPT’s advanced voice mode. 

The feature allows users to engage in real-time visual and audio interactions with ChatGPT, making conversations more interactive and functional. 

Starting today, the rollout will gradually reach all users, including Plus and Pro subscribers, with full availability expected early next year for enterprise and educational plans.

The announcement came after OpenAI acknowledged a brief outage the previous day, promising detailed follow-ups while swiftly resuming operations. “We know you depend on us, and we take this very seriously,” said Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s product lead. 

A More Interactive ChatGPT

The newly introduced features let users share their screens and video feed while engaging in natural conversations with ChatGPT.

Users can troubleshoot issues, learn new skills, or collaborate on tasks with real-time visual support. Demonstrations during the livestream included making pour-over coffee with ChatGPT providing step-by-step guidance via video.

Rowan Zellers, a researcher at OpenAI, explained, “Now you can chat with ChatGPT over video and voice together in real-time.” The feature also includes screen-sharing capabilities, allowing users to get instant help for tasks such as crafting responses, troubleshooting code, or reviewing presentations.

Interestingly, this is quite similar to Microsoft Copilot Vision, Anthropic Computer Use, Google’s Mariner. 

A Festive Twist: Santa Joins ChatGPT

Adding a touch of holiday fun, OpenAI introduced a Santa Mode within ChatGPT. Users can now interact with Santa in real-time, asking him about his favorite reindeer, Christmas traditions, or even how to maintain a fluffy beard. The feature, accessible via a snowflake icon, resets advanced voice usage limits for the month, ensuring everyone gets a chance to experience Santa’s jolly presence.

During the demo, Santa quipped, “My favorite tradition is when children hang their stockings by the fireplace—it’s a moment filled with magic and anticipation.” The lighthearted addition brings a festive spirit to ChatGPT’s growing functionality.

Santa to Drive Subscriptions

“I fully expect Santa Mode to drive more subscriptions than o1 and I’m at peace with this,” said Noam Brown, researcher at OpenAI. That makes sense as o1 is currently priced at $200.

OpenAI’s announcement comes amid intense competition in the AI space. Google recently released Gemini 2, its advanced multimodal model, while Amazon launched Nova. 

Addressing the industry buzz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman hinted at bigger updates on the horizon. “AGI is in the air,” he posted cryptically, fueling speculation about upcoming releases like GPT-4.5 or GPT-5. These developments suggest that OpenAI isn’t just playing catch-up—it’s setting the stage for what’s next.

What’s Next? 

With six more days left, the company is clearly ramping up for something significant. The addition of video and screen-sharing to advanced voice mode reflects a broader vision of making AI interactions richer and more human-like. 

As the race for AI dominance continues, OpenAI’s ability to innovate while maintaining a festive, community-focused approach keeps it firmly in the spotlight. Whether through Santa’s jolly voice or video-guided coffee tutorials, OpenAI is redefining how we interact with AI—one update at a time.