ElevenLabs CEO: Voice is the next interface for AI
Voice as the Next Major Interface for AI
ElevenLabs co-founder and CEO Mati Staniszewski asserts that voice is emerging as the next major interface for AI, fundamentally transforming how people interact with machines as models evolve beyond text and screens.
Advancing Voice Technology
Speaking at Web Summit in Doha, Staniszewski told TechCrunch that voice models, such as those developed by ElevenLabs, have progressed beyond simply replicating human speech — including emotional nuances and intonation — to working in harmony with the reasoning capabilities of large language models. According to him, this evolution signifies a pivotal shift in how individuals engage with technology.
Looking ahead, Staniszewski stated, “Hopefully all our phones will go back in our pockets, and we can immerse ourselves in the real world around us, with voice as the mechanism that controls technology.”
Driving Industry Momentum
This vision underpins ElevenLabs’s recent $500 million funding round at an $11 billion valuation. The concept of voice as a primary interface is gaining traction across the AI industry. Companies like OpenAI and Google have placed significant emphasis on voice in their next-generation models, while Apple is quietly advancing voice-adjacent, always-on technologies through acquisitions like Q.ai. As AI extends into wearables, vehicles, and other hardware, control mechanisms are shifting from screen-based interaction to voice-driven systems, positioning voice as a critical battleground for the next wave of AI innovation.
Shifting Interaction Paradigms
Onstage at Web Summit, Iconiq Capital general partner Seth Pierrepont echoed this perspective, emphasizing that while screens will remain relevant for gaming and entertainment, traditional input methods like keyboards are increasingly perceived as “outdated.”
Pierrepont also noted that as AI systems become more agentic, the nature of interaction will evolve. Future models will incorporate guardrails, integrations, and contextual awareness, enabling them to respond with minimal explicit user prompting.
The Role of Persistent Memory and Context
Staniszewski highlighted this agentic shift as one of the most significant changes underway. He explained that rather than requiring users to explicitly spell out every instruction, future voice systems will leverage persistent memory and accumulated context for more natural and effortless interactions.
This shift, he added, will influence how voice models are deployed. While high-quality audio models have historically relied on cloud-based processing, ElevenLabs is moving toward a hybrid approach that combines cloud and on-device processing. This strategy aims to support emerging hardware, such as headphones and other wearables, where voice becomes a constant companion rather than an occasional feature.
Expanding Partnerships and Applications
ElevenLabs is already collaborating with Meta to integrate its voice technology into products like Instagram and Horizon Worlds, Meta’s virtual-reality platform. Staniszewski also expressed interest in working with Meta on its Ray-Ban smart glasses as voice-driven interfaces extend into new form factors.
Privacy and Ethical Concerns
As voice technology becomes more pervasive and embedded in daily-use hardware, it raises significant concerns around privacy, surveillance, and the handling of personal data. The proximity of voice-based systems to users’ lives amplifies these risks, particularly given existing allegations against companies like Google for misuse of such data.
