Microsoft's Azure AI Speech answers calls with your voice on Truecaller

The next AI stride is cloning or reproducing someone’s voice. OpenAI is developing Voice Engine and even TikTok is working on a voice-cloning feature. Edge will also implement a voice dubbing translator, so we know that this is big. Therefore, we’re not really surprised to see that a developer grabbed the oportunity to use this feature for voice calls.

Truecaller, a caller ID and spam blocking software developer teamed up with Microsoft to integrate the Redmond giant’s Azure AI Speech’s Personal Voice into Truecaller’s AI Assistant.

How is Truecaller working with Azure AI Speech?

Now, let’s dive a bit deeper. Truecaller’s AI Assistant, which made its debut in September 2022, is already a handy tool for automatically answering calls, screening them, taking messages, and even responding on your behalf. But with the new addition of Personal Voice, things are getting personal.

Basically, you can now create a digital version of your own voice. That means instead of a robotic tone, your callers can hear a voice that sounds just like you. Of course, this adds a touch of familiarity to the conversation. Thankfully, when the AI answers the call, it presents itself as a digital assistant, otherwise, the caller might need a couple of seconds to figure out they’re not actually talking to you.

This collaboration was showcased with a working demo at the Microsoft Build conference in Seattle, and it’s been the talk of the town since. The idea is simple yet revolutionary: record a few seconds of your voice, and voila, you’ve got a digital twin ready to handle your calls. Raphael Mimoun, from Truecaller, couldn’t hide his excitement, describing this integration in the company’s press release as a significant step towards a truly personalized communication experience.

The thought of your digital assistant not just working for you but sounding like you is pretty cool. But, as always, there are concerns about security. Well, Microsoft has put in several safeguards to ensure that this technology is used responsibly.

Consent from the original speaker is a must, and there’s a clear disclosure that the voice is synthetic. Plus, there’s a watermark added to the speech output for an extra layer of security, boasting a 99.7% accuracy in detection. So, will the app stop you from using the voices of famous actors like Morgan Freeman or Scarlett Johansson to answer your calls instead? We’ll just have to see about that, right?

Accessing this futuristic feature requires the latest version of the Truecaller app and a subscription to Truecaller Premium, which is priced at $4.99 per month.

We’re sure that Truecaller is just one of the many apps that will play with voice cloning so expect some surprises in the near future. Did you know that soon, you will be able to create a virtual AI vlogger to work for you? The future might look a bit creepy, but it’s definitely not boring at all.

What do you think about Truecaller’s app using Microsoft’s Azure AI Speech? Let us know in the comments below.