ElevenLabs CEO Declares Voice the Next Major AI Interface

Voice as the Next AI Interface

At the Web Summit, ElevenLabs co‑founder and chief executive Mati Staniszewski asserted that voice is emerging as the next major interface for artificial‑intelligence technologies. He explained that modern voice models no longer merely imitate human speech; they now incorporate emotion, intonation, and the reasoning power of large language models. This evolution, he argued, will shift user interaction from tapping screens to speaking, allowing people to keep their devices in their pockets while engaging with the world around them.

Hybrid Cloud and On‑Device Processing

Staniszewski described ElevenLabs’ strategy to move beyond purely cloud‑based audio generation toward a hybrid approach that blends cloud services with on‑device processing. This architecture is designed to support emerging hardware such as headphones, smart glasses, and other wearables where voice can act as a constant companion rather than an occasional feature. By combining the scalability of the cloud with the low‑latency benefits of local computation, the company aims to deliver high‑quality, real‑time voice interactions across a broader range of devices.

Partnerships and Market Impact

The CEO highlighted a partnership with Meta that brings ElevenLabs’ voice technology to platforms like Instagram and the Horizon Worlds virtual‑reality environment. He also expressed openness to collaborating on Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses, signaling a push to embed voice‑driven interfaces into new form factors. These alliances, together with the company’s recent fundraising round that valued ElevenLabs at eleven billion dollars, underscore the growing commercial interest in voice as a core AI capability.

Privacy and Surveillance Concerns

While championing the promise of pervasive voice interaction, Staniszewski acknowledged that embedding voice systems more deeply into daily life raises serious privacy and surveillance issues. Persistent voice data collection could enable detailed personal profiling, and the CEO warned that companies must address how much user data is stored and processed as voice becomes a continuous, always‑on interface. The discussion referenced broader industry scrutiny of similar technologies, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards.