Why AI Voice Feels More Human Than Ever

AI voice technology has been around for years — think Siri or Alexa — but the magic has been missing. That’s changing, and quickly!

In this episode, Anish Acharya, General Partner at a16z, and Olivia Moore, Partner at a16z, explore why AI voice is reaching a breakthrough moment, how today’s models feel more human than ever, and why voice is poised to become the primary way people interact with AI.

With businesses already making tens of thousands of AI-driven phone calls daily, AI-powered conversations are no longer a distant vision—they’re happening now. Whether it's AI companions, customer service bots, or enterprise applications, voice tech is here—and it’s improving faster than anyone expected.

Timecodes:
00:00: Introduction
00:46: Challenges and Opportunities in Voice AI
02:41: Technological Advances in Voice AI
05:04: Voice AI in Business Applications
06:38: Evolution of AI Voice Technology
07:56: Emotionality and Human-Like Interactions
10:13: AI Voice in Various Industries
15:42: Consumer Receptivity and AI Companionship
24:19: Pricing Models and Market Strategies
27:36: Future Prospects

Resources:
Find Anish on X: https://x.com/illscience
Find Olivia on X: https://x.com/omooretweets
Read the report: https://a16z.com/ai-voice-agents-2025...
Listen to Raising Health’s episode on how voice AI is solving healthcare’s workforce challenges: https://a16z.com/podcast/voice-ai-sol...

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.