Tech Tip - How To Keep ChatGPT Conversations Alive Whilst Switching Between Applications On Your Phone

Did you know that you can keep ChatGPT conversations running on your device, even if you switch between applications or if you lock your phone.  Here is an easy way to keep ChatGPT running in the background:

• On your phone, open the ChatGPT application
• Tap on the two line menu icon at the top left of the screen
• Tap on your account name at the bottom of the screen to access the settings menu
• Scroll through the menu until you find the VOICE MODE menu options
• Enable the slider to the right of Background Conversations, turning the slider from Grey and to the left, to Green and to the right to show it is enabled
• This allows you to continue talking with ChatGPT even when the phone is using a different application or if the phone is locked.
• Once you have made this change, tap on the small X at the top of the screen to close the settings

To disable this feature, just go through the steps above but move the slider next to Background Conversations from Green and to the right, to Grey and to the left to turn the feature off.

NOTE: When using background conversation mode, ChatGPT will continue to listen and will offer answers to you, even if it is not what you want.  For example if you are using background mode and then stop to have a conversation with someone else, ChatGPT will often offer up answers to chip in to the conversation!  So whilst it is GREAT for helping you multitask and access information from ChatGPT whilst you are in other applications or having it in the background with your phone locked, it will always listen and it will offer up information when asked.  I even asked ChatGPT what its wakeup phrase was and it told me to use "Hey ChatGPT", however, even without using this wakeup phrase, it was always listening, and kept on asking me if I needed help, like a very needy personal assistant.

So whilst this is a handy feature for multitasking, it is still invasive and never appears to go into a passive state until it is woken up.   We found the only way to stop it listening was to turn the feature off after use, or you will have ChatGPT constantly asking if you need help or offering up unsolicited advice!