Microsoft just revealed Interpreter for Teams, a tool that translates your voice in real time during meetings while making it sound like you. Launching in early 2025 for Microsoft 365 subscribers across nine languages, the feature requires explicit user consent and won't store biometric data.
ElevenLabs just launched a full pipeline for building conversational AI agents on its developer platform. Creators can customize voice tone, configure interruptions, and plug in LLMs like Gemini, GPT, or Claude alongside custom knowledge bases. It positions the voice startup directly against OpenAI's real-time API.
Meta just started rolling out its Meta AI assistant to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in France, Italy, and Spain, adding support for French, Italian, and Spanish. But European users won't get the multimodal camera-based features available in the US due to strict EU AI and GDPR compliance hurdles.
ESPN just revealed FACTS, an AI-generated avatar being tested to complement hosts on its college football show SEC Nation. Powered by Nvidia’s ACE, Azure OpenAI, and ElevenLabs, the bot pulls from ESPN Analytics to make complex sports metrics accessible. ESPN insists it is definitely not built to replace human talent.
British telco O2 just deployed 'Daisy', a lifelike AI granny designed to answer fraudulent calls around the clock. Combining multiple AI models and trained with scambaiter Jim Browning, Daisy can chat autonomously in real time, keeping scammers on the hook for up to 40 minutes to waste their time.
OpenAI just launched its ChatGPT desktop app on Windows to all users. The app features an Alt + Space shortcut for instant access and packs Advanced Voice Mode, letting you talk to your PC hands-free while working. It brings native AI utility straight to the desktop without relying on a browser tab.
Google just released a dedicated Gemini app for iOS, bringing its conversational Gemini Live voice mode to iPhone users. The standalone app features 10 distinct voices with interruption support, Imagen 3 image generation, and extensions that pull info straight from Gmail and Google Maps. Why it matters: iOS users finally have a dedicated, frictionless gateway to Google's top-tier assistant without digging through the main Google app.
Wondercraft just integrated ElevenLabs' voice technology to let creators edit and personalize Google NotebookLM podcasts with custom cloned voices. Over 10,000 users jumped on the feature within its first week, generating thousands of hours of audio. Why it matters: it turns raw, generic AI banter into polished, branded audio ready for publication.
CreatorKit just teamed up with ElevenLabs to launch Emotive AI Actors, allowing brands to generate video ads where AI avatars match the script's emotional tone. By delivering realistic expressions ranging from excitement to calm, CreatorKit says video conversion rates climbed 16%.
DeepL just launched DeepL Voice, its first voice product that translates spoken conversations into real-time text captions. It can listen to 13 languages and output text in 33, aiming at face-to-face chats and Teams meetings. Why it matters: DeepL delivers text-only output for ultra-low latency, though API access and direct audio generation aren't available yet.
ElevenLabs just rolled out a major overhaul to Studio, its long-form audio narration tool. The update adds word-level regeneration to fix flubs without burning extra credits, a lock feature to secure finished paragraphs, and multi-voice support within a single paragraph. It makes producing full-length audiobooks and dialogue-heavy scripts far less tedious.
Google just started testing a dedicated Gemini app for iOS, bringing its conversational Gemini Live voice assistant to the iPhone for the first time. Previously, iOS users were stuck accessing a limited version hidden inside the main Google app. The new standalone app even works from the lock screen, though it is currently limited to select regions like the Philippines.
ElevenLabs just partnered with the Jerry Garcia Estate to bring the late Grateful Dead frontman's AI-recreated voice to its ElevenReader app. The model can read audiobooks, articles, and PDFs across 32 languages, with plans to expand into future narrated documentaries. While it only reads text rather than sings, it marks another step in turning iconic celebrity legacies into interactive AI assets.
Hume AI just launched a browser-based voice application combining its proprietary EVI 2 speech model with Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Haiku. Users can chat with various specialized AI personas through their microphone without creating an account. Early testing shows solid factual answers, though narrative modes still suffer from occasional repetition and voice shifts.
Amazon just delayed its generative AI-powered Alexa revamp into 2025, quietly shuttering its beta program in the process. Testers reported the new assistant was slow, hallucinated, and struggled with basic smart home commands like setting kitchen timers or turning off lights. Why it matters: Building a conversational bot is one thing, but reliably connecting an LLM to legacy smart home hardware is proving to be a massive headache.
ElevenLabs just rolled out an open-source project called X to Voice alongside a new Voice Design API. The tool scans any X profile's bio and posts to craft a prompt, generating three unique voice previews and even animating profile pictures with matching lip movements. Developers can now also build custom voices for their AI characters via the API.
Anthropic just launched official Mac and Windows desktop apps for Claude in public beta, alongside a new voice dictation feature on iOS, Android, and iPadOS. The dictation tool lets users record up to 10 minutes of audio that Claude then transcribes and answers. It isn't a live, conversational voice mode like ChatGPT's, but it makes firing off complex prompts on the go a whole lot easier.
Anthropic just launched official Mac and Windows desktop apps for Claude in public beta, available to both free and paid users. The dedicated app lets users invoke the assistant via keyboard shortcuts for focused work. Alongside the desktop rollout, mobile versions also gained a native voice dictation feature supporting recordings up to 10 minutes.
OpenAI just rolled out its Advanced Voice Mode to ChatGPT desktop apps on macOS and Windows, bringing human-like, low-latency audio conversations directly to your computer. Users can chat back and forth while coding or brainstorming over uploaded files with five new voices. It is currently limited to paid Plus and Team subscribers, excluding the EU and UK.
Researchers just revealed that OpenAI’s Whisper transcription model frequently hallucinates, with a University of Michigan study finding fabricated text in 80% of reviewed transcripts. Other engineers found widespread inventions, including fictional medical treatments. Why it matters: Whisper is already widely deployed across medical consultations and enterprise cloud platforms.
