OpenAI has added some North Pole magic to their ChatGPT AI chatbot by unveiling Santa Mode on mobile, web, and desktop apps for iOS, Android, and MacOS users.
Santa Mode can be activated by tapping on a snowflake icon next to the prompt bar, and will remain active until early January. Furthermore, engaging with Santa will reset advanced voice mode usage limits.
Santa Mode
As Christmas 2025 rapidly approaches, one free phone app has introduced an entertaining upgrade that lets users interact directly with Santa himself! ChatGPT now includes a special Santa Mode that mimics Hollywood depictions of old Saint Nick until early January.
Users can tap a snowflake icon either on their home screen or voice prompt bar to interact with Santa. This feature is globally accessible across mobile, web and MacOS/Windows desktop apps until early January – any talks with him won’t impact ChatGPT’s memory function in any way!
ChatGPT’s festive new mode adds an exciting and playful dimension to its experience, answering queries about Santa and his reindeer or holiday traditions. As part of its holiday upgrade, video and screen sharing capabilities will also be introduced for video chatGPT users – this all part of 12 Days of ChatGPT Features being introduced this month to make interactions simpler for people of all ages with the service.
Real-time video understanding
On Thursday, ChatGPT’s advanced voice feature received a festive upgrade that allows users to interact with Santa Claus. Additionally, ChatGPT announced real-time video understanding for its tool.
Rowan Zellers, a researcher from ChatGPT, demonstrated its new capabilities during a livestream. Now capable of comprehending what’s happening onscreen and answering user inquiries regarding certain objects or scenarios like troubleshooting software or reviewing presentations, the bot can now understand everything it sees allowing for easier interaction when troubleshooting software or reviewing presentations.
This functionality combines machine learning and vision technology to help users complete tasks with human assistance. Now available for ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers on Android, iOS mobile apps, web app and Windows/MacOS desktop applications; temporary interactions will not appear in chat history and will only last up until early January when accessible through its snowflake icon on prompt bars.
Reset Advanced Voice Mode usage limits
ChatGPT users can add some fun and festive spirit to their AI interactions by conversing with Santa via a new voice mode accessed via a snowflake icon on the prompt bar, available worldwide until early January.
OpenAI describes Santa Voice as cheerful and bright, similar to how depictions of him appear in movies or on television shows. Chats conducted in Santa Mode will only appear temporarily and won’t appear in ChatGPT chat history or be used for training purposes; additionally, OpenAI notes that ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode usage limits are reset upon first engaging in Santa-themed conversations.
Santa voice mode is part of a larger update to ChatGPT that includes video communication and screen sharing features, expanding its functionality and making it more capable of helping with projects or troubleshooting technical issues. The company will rollout these updates gradually across mobile, web and desktop platforms for subscribers of ChatGPT Plus and Pro plans.
Santa’s voice is merry and bright
OpenAI’s Santa Mode (also known as MerryAI) adds seasonal cheer to their popular AI chatbot. Simply click a snowflake icon next to the prompt bar, and activate this voice feature which features traditional Santa Claus images with its classic booming and cheerful tone.
OpenAI states that their Santa-related chats will only appear briefly and won’t be used for training purposes, a move designed to protect children from inadvertently sharing their naughty and nice lists with an automated bot; though more could have been done by the company to ensure an enjoyable and secure experience.
Santa voice mode will be globally accessible across iOS and Android mobile apps, the website, desktop apps for Windows and MacOS as well as Santa-branded desktop applications until early January. Users can access this mode by tapping its snowflake icon either from home screen or voice settings; Santa also comes equipped with real-time video understanding for seamless interactions just like other ChatGPT modes; this announcement comes just one day after ChatGPT introduced visual understanding into ChatGPT itself.