ChatGPT may soon support being a default assistant app on Android like Google Assistant

The Google Assistant is typically the go-to assistant app on Android smartphones, however, the OS has always permitted users to replace it with other applications. As LLMs become more popular, it appears that the ChatGPT app could potentially offer support to serve as an Android assistant. This concept of third-party assistant apps is not a new phenomenon, with Microsoft's Cortana and Amazon's Alexa also offering similar functionality.

When an app is set up as the default assistant on Android, it can take the place of Google Assistant, responding to long-press home or power button gestures and swipes for gesture navigation. This does not prevent access to Google Assistant, but to use it, you would need to find it in the Play Store or use another method. ChatGPT appears to be working on incorporating these capabilities, as suggested by a new activity, com.openai.voice.assistant.AssistantActivity, detected in the latest version of the ChatGPT app by Android Authority.

This activity triggers an overlay suggestive of voice input support, much like Google Assistant. However, this feature isn't activated by default, nor is it entirely operational. The code in the app indicates progress towards enabling ChatGPT to serve as a default assistant app, yet it remains incomplete.

Interestingly, Microsoft removed the option for Bing to serve as a default assistance app following the launch of its GPT-based LLM solution. Details on the timing and pricing for these new features remain unclear. OpenAI provides extra features in ChatGPT via a Plus subscription, and additional code in the app implies support for a Quick Settings tile exclusive to Plus subscribers. However, it's still too early to confirm any details, leaving us to wait and see.
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