Truecaller partners with Microsoft to let its AI answer calls with your voice | TechCrunch

AI is already starting to replace the jobs of voice agents. Now, companies are exploring ways to replace existing computer-generated voice models with synthetic versions of human voices. Truecaller, the popular caller ID service, is the latest to take this approach with its announcement that it will now allow customers to use its AI-powered Assistant to answer phone calls in OWN the voice.

The new experience comes via a partnership with Microsoft that allows the Swedish company to use the Redmond giant’s Personal Voice technology, introduced in November as part of Azure AI Speech.

Using Microsoft’s Personal Voice, Truecaller Assistant, available to paid users, will be able to repeat users’ voices to greet and answer callers. This is in addition to the default system-generated voice options available to users through the digital assistance feature that helps answer phone calls for you, screen unknown calls, receive messages, answer on your behalf or even record the call for your later viewing.

Truecaller users have to record a few-second script with their voice to create a digital copy after giving their consent. This allows the Assistant to start answering calls in the digital version of your voice.

Typically, Truecaller’s Assistant provides an option to modify the incoming greeting template for callers. However, Truecaller confirmed to TechCrunch that it has limited the greeting template if you use your personal voice instead of a system-generated voice. This is designed to make it clear that callers are hearing a “digital” version of the user’s voice.

However, follow-up responses can be customized based on user preferences. Azure AI Speech’s personal voice feature, which is available with limited access by registration only, also adds watermarks to the speech output it creates to allow a detector tool to identify synthetic audio.

“We strongly believe that the personal voice feature will revolutionize the way our users manage their calls and enhance their overall experience with Truecaller Assistant. We look forward to further exploring the potential of AI-powered voice technologies in partnership with Microsoft and providing even more innovative solutions to our global user base,” said Raphael Mimoun, product director and general manager, Truecaller Israel, in a statement.

The personalized voice feature in Truecaller’s Assistant will roll out over the next few weeks, starting with the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, Sweden and Chile. It will initially be available to public beta users and later to all users in eligible markets.