# How Tolan builds voice-first AI with GPT-5.1

DevFeed: [How Tolan builds voice-first AI with GPT-5.1](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-tolan-builds-voice-first-ai-with-gpt-5-1-6692.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://openai.com/index/tolan>)

Published: 2026-01-07T10:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [OpenAI News](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/openai-news.md>)

Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [voice ai](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/voice-ai.md>), [context window](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/context-window.md>), [Low Latency](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/low-latency.md>), [long-context](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/long-context.md>), [real-time](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/real-time.md>), [foundation-models](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/foundation-models.md>), [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [OpenAI](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/openai.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [chatgpt](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chatgpt.md>), [context-window](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/context-window.md>), [foundation-models](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/foundation-models.md>), [low-latency](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/low-latency.md>), [memory](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/memory.md>), [openai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/openai.md>), [real-time](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/real-time.md>), [startup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup.md>), [voice](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/voice.md>)

## AI overview

Tolan is a voice-first AI companion built by Portola that uses GPT-5.1 to support low-latency conversations, real-time context management, and consistent, memory-driven personalities. Its architecture reconstructs the context window on every turn using recent-message summaries, persona information, retrieved memories, tone guidance, and app signals.

## Source excerpt

Tolan built a voice-first AI companion with GPT-5.1, combining low-latency responses, real-time context reconstruction, and memory-driven personalities for natural conversations.