AI voice interfaces are becoming the primary method for human-computer interaction, with major tech companies investing billions in this technology shift.
Doha: AI companies are making voice the main way people talk to computers. Mati Staniszewski leads ElevenLabs and says phones should go back in pockets. People can use their voices to control devices instead of looking at screens.
E-lev-en Labs just got $500 million from investors who think the company is worth $11 billion. This big money shows how important voice technology has become. OpenAI and Google also think voice is very important for future computers.
The way people talk to computers is changing. Instead of typing words and tapping screens, people can just speak to devices. Computers will understand what people want without needing all the details spelled out. This happens because computers remember past talks and learn what people like.
Voices need to work on devices people carry everywhere. E-lev-en Labs wants to make systems that work both in the cloud and on phones or headphones. The company already works with Meta to put voice into apps like Instagram and virtual reality worlds.
Some people worry about privacy when computers always listen. Companies like Google have been in trouble for collecting too much information from voice recordings. People need to think about how much computers should know about what they say and do.