The CEO of ElevenLabs says voice will become the primary interface for AI, reshaping how people interact with software beyond screens and keyboards.
Text-based chat may dominate today’s AI products, but it may not define tomorrow’s. The CEO of ElevenLabs believes voice is the next major interface for artificial intelligence, according to an interview reported by TechCrunch.
The claim reflects a growing view within the AI industry: as models become more capable, the bottleneck is no longer intelligence—but interaction.
Why voice changes the AI experience
Voice removes friction. Speaking is faster and more natural than typing, particularly in environments where screens are impractical or attention is divided. For AI systems designed to assist continuously—rather than respond occasionally—voice offers a more human-like mode of engagement.
Advances in speech synthesis and understanding have made voice interfaces feel less robotic and more expressive. That progress is central to ElevenLabs’ strategy, which focuses on generating natural, emotionally nuanced speech rather than generic outputs.
The result is AI that can sound conversational, contextual, and adaptive—qualities that text alone struggles to convey.
Beyond assistants and chatbots
Voice-driven AI is not limited to smart speakers or customer support. It opens possibilities across media, education, accessibility, gaming, and enterprise workflows.
For example, voice interfaces can lower barriers for users with disabilities, enable real-time translation, or support hands-free interaction in complex environments. As AI agents become more autonomous, voice may also serve as the primary way humans supervise and direct them.
This positions voice as a foundational layer, not just a feature.
Competitive landscape and challenges for ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs is not alone in betting on voice. Large tech companies and startups alike are racing to integrate speech more deeply into AI systems. The challenge lies in trust, accuracy, and control—users must feel confident that voice-driven AI understands intent and respects boundaries.
There are also social and cultural hurdles. Always-on voice systems raise privacy concerns, and norms around speaking to machines are still evolving.
A shift in human–computer interaction
The CEO’s argument ultimately points to a larger shift: AI interfaces may move closer to how humans naturally communicate with one another.
If that transition succeeds, screens and keyboards will not disappear—but they may recede into the background. In their place, voice could become the most intuitive bridge between people and increasingly capable machines.
In that future, the question is not whether AI can speak—but whether we are ready to listen.
