Voice AI: The Next Interface, Says ElevenLabs CEO
▼ Summary
– ElevenLabs’ CEO states that voice is becoming the next major AI interface, shifting interaction from screens to speech.
– Advanced voice models now combine human-like speech with LLM reasoning, enabling more natural user interactions with technology.
– Major tech firms like OpenAI, Google, and Apple are prioritizing voice, making it a key competitive area for next-gen AI and hardware.
– Future voice systems will use persistent memory and context to act more agentically, requiring less explicit instruction from users.
– The expansion of always-on voice tech raises significant privacy and data concerns as it becomes embedded in daily wearables and hardware.
The future of how we interact with technology is shifting from our fingertips to our voices. According to ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski, voice is rapidly emerging as the next primary interface for artificial intelligence, moving beyond text and screens to become a more natural and immersive control mechanism. This evolution promises a world where our devices recede into the background, allowing us to engage more fully with our surroundings simply by speaking.
Speaking at a recent industry conference, Staniszewski explained that modern voice models have progressed far beyond basic speech synthesis. They now capture nuanced emotion and intonation while integrating with the powerful reasoning engines of large language models. This fusion creates a fundamentally different user experience. The executive envisions a near future where phones stay in pockets, and voice serves as the seamless conduit for commanding our digital environment. This compelling vision recently helped ElevenLabs secure significant funding, valuing the company in the billions.
This perspective is gaining widespread traction across the tech sector. Industry giants like OpenAI and Google are placing voice interaction at the core of their next-generation AI developments. Apple’s strategic acquisitions hint at a similar focus on always-on, voice-adjacent technologies. As AI integrates into wearables, automotive systems, and novel hardware, the primary mode of control is transitioning from touchscreens to spoken commands, establishing voice as a critical competitive frontier.
Other investors and leaders share this outlook. Iconiq Capital’s Seth Pierrepont noted that while screens remain vital for entertainment, traditional input methods like keyboards are beginning to feel obsolete. He also highlighted a related shift: as AI systems become more independent or “agentic,” their interactions with users will transform. Future models will operate with built-in safeguards, deeper integrations, and richer contextual awareness, requiring less detailed instruction for every request.
Staniszewski emphasized this move toward agentic AI as a pivotal change. Instead of users meticulously outlining every step, advanced voice systems will utilize persistent memory and accumulated context over time. This makes conversations with technology feel more intuitive and fluid, significantly reducing the cognitive load on the user. This progression also dictates how the underlying technology is architected. While powerful audio models have traditionally relied on cloud servers, companies like ElevenLabs are pioneering a hybrid model that combines cloud and on-device processing.
This technical shift is essential for supporting the next wave of hardware, such as advanced headphones and smart glasses, where voice acts as a constant, ambient companion rather than an app you open and close. ElevenLabs is already collaborating with Meta to integrate its voice technology into platforms like Instagram and its virtual reality ecosystem. Staniszewski expressed openness to extending this partnership to devices like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses as voice interfaces expand into new forms.
However, this always-available, voice-driven future is not without significant challenges. As voice AI becomes more deeply embedded in daily life and hardware, it raises profound questions about privacy, surveillance, and data security. The prospect of systems continuously listening and storing personal audio data as they integrate into our routines brings serious concerns about potential misuse, a criticism already leveled at some major technology firms. Navigating these ethical considerations will be just as crucial as the technological advances themselves for the successful adoption of voice as our primary interface.
(Source: TechCrunch)
