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GPT Realtime Released 2025-08-28

OpenAI invited beta realtime audio
Input$4/M
Output$16/M
Audio input$32/M
Audio output$64/M
Cache read$0.4/M
Knowledge cutoff2023-10

Provider list prices: no platform markup, pay-as-you-go. These are official list prices. Logged-in customers may see effective prices including workspace discounts on /console/pricing. Effective input at a 70% cache-hit rate:$1.48/M. Automatic prefix caching once a prompt passes the minimum length, with no code changes; cached reads are discounted (up to 90% on current models) and there is no write fee.

Use GPT Realtime in 30 seconds

OpenAI Realtime-compatible: connect over WebSocket and stream audio in, audio out. WS /v1/realtime

import asyncio, base64, json, websockets

URL = "wss://synthorai.io/v1/realtime?model=gpt-realtime"
HEADERS = {"Authorization": "Bearer sk-syn-...", "OpenAI-Beta": "realtime=v1"}

async def main():
    async with websockets.connect(URL, additional_headers=HEADERS) as ws:
        # 1) configure the speech-to-speech session
        await ws.send(json.dumps({
            "type": "session.update",
            "session": {"modalities": ["audio", "text"], "voice": "alloy"},
        }))
        # 2) send input audio (base64 PCM16), then request a spoken reply
        await ws.send(json.dumps({"type": "input_audio_buffer.append", "audio": pcm16_b64}))
        await ws.send(json.dumps({"type": "input_audio_buffer.commit"}))
        await ws.send(json.dumps({"type": "response.create"}))
        # 3) stream the model's audio (and text) back
        async for raw in ws:
            ev = json.loads(raw)
            if ev["type"] == "response.audio.delta":
                play(base64.b64decode(ev["delta"]))   # audio out
            elif ev["type"] == "response.done":
                break

asyncio.run(main())

About GPT Realtime

Speech-to-speech in one model, no transcription chain
Expressive natural audio with function calling
Original GA snapshot of the realtime family

GPT Realtime is OpenAI's first general-availability realtime model: a single speech-to-speech model that listens and responds with natural, expressive audio directly, rather than chaining separate transcription and synthesis models.

  • It carries a 32K-token context window with 4,096 max output tokens, supports function calling for voice-agent workflows, and takes audio or text input with audio and text output; audio and text are billed at separate per-token rates, with discounted cached input.
  • It remains available as the original GA snapshot of the realtime family.
  • Synthorai serves GPT Realtime over the OpenAI-compatible /v1/realtime WebSocket endpoint, so official Realtime SDK clients connect unchanged.

Specs & limits

Max output (vendor spec)4,096
Modalitiesaudio + text → audio + text
Featuresrealtime · speech-to-speech
NotableOpenAI's first general-availability realtime model (snapshot gpt-realtime-2025-08-28): native speech-to-speech with function calling; 32k context.
Prompt cachingautomatic · min 1,024-token prefix · TTL 5–10m, up to 1h

per OpenAI official docs ↗

FAQ

Is the GPT Realtime API free to try?

GPT Realtime is currently in invited beta: access is application-based rather than open signup. Apply from the Synthorai console; once approved, standard pay-as-you-go pricing applies with no subscription.

What is GPT Realtime best at?

Speech-to-speech in one model, no transcription chain, plus expressive natural audio with function calling and original GA snapshot of the realtime family. See the About section for the full picture from the vendor's own release notes.

How much does GPT Realtime cost?

GPT Realtime costs $4 per million input tokens and $16 per million output tokens on Synthorai. That is the provider's list price, with no platform markup. Cached input tokens bill at $0.4/M.

How do I connect to the GPT Realtime API?

GPT Realtime is a speech-to-speech model: connect over WebSocket to wss://synthorai.io/v1/realtime?model=gpt-realtime with the OpenAI Realtime SDK (or a raw WebSocket) and stream audio in, audio out. It is not a POST /v1/audio/transcriptions file upload. Authenticate with your sk-syn key and mirror the OpenAI-Beta header.

How do I get access to GPT Realtime?

GPT Realtime is in invited beta: request access from the Synthorai console. Once approved it works like every other model: point your OpenAI SDK at base_url="https://synthorai.io/v1" and set model="gpt-realtime".

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