I always thought I'd be excited about AI, but here I am, geeking out more than I could possibly imagine about voice technology. Why? Because it's not just about robots and sci-fi anymore. It's about preserving the essence of who we are, our stories, our laughter – our voices.

As the founder of Family Voices AI, I've been deep in the world of voice technology for a while now. But lately, I've noticed something interesting. It's not just audio nerds like me who are buzzing about this stuff. The big money is starting to pay attention too.

Voice AI is having a moment, and investors are all ears

Get this: according to PitchBook data, startups working on voice AI pulled in over $398 million in venture capital funding last year. That's not chump change, people! We're talking serious investors betting serious money on the future of voice technology.

Take PolyAI, for example. This London-based company just snagged $50 million from Hedosophia. And then there's ElevenLabs, which just released their conversational platform which is some pretty cool voice cloning tech. They raised $100 million in January and word on the street is they're going for another $200 million.

But why? Why are investors suddenly so interested in our voices?

It's not just about the money (but the money helps)

Sure, the voice is an easy category to monetize. It's got straightforward pricing and clear revenue streams. But I think there's something deeper going on here.

You see, our voice is... personal. It's emotional. It's the sound of your kid's first words, your partner's laugh, your grandma's stories. And now, we have the technology to preserve those voices, to keep them alive even when the people we love are gone.

That's what gets me excited. That's what I think these investors are seeing. They're not just funding apps or gadgets. They're investing in memory, in legacy, in the soul of our family histories.

The future is speaking, and it sounds like us

Now, I'm not saying this technology is perfect. There are definitely some kinks to work out. Privacy concerns, ethical questions – we've got to tackle those head-on. But the potential? It's mind-blowing.

Imagine having a conversation with your great-great-grandmother, hearing her voice, her stories, in her own words. Or think about leaving a living, speaking legacy for your own great-grandkids. This isn't science fiction anymore. It's happening now, and it's only going to get better.

The platform I'm building at Family Voices AI will make this technology accessible to everyone, not just big corporations or tech giants. Because I believe every family deserves the chance to preserve their voices, their stories, their legacy.

So, what's next?

The voice AI industry is still in its infancy. There's no established playbook, no set rules. And that's exciting. It means we get to shape this technology, to decide how it can best serve families and communities.

As investors continue to pour money into voice AI tech, we're going to see rapid advancements. Better quality, more natural interactions, easier ways to capture and preserve voices. But it's up to us – the developers, the users, the dreamers – to guide this technology in a direction that truly benefits humanity.

So here's my challenge to you: start thinking about your voice, your family's voices, as something precious, something worth preserving. Because in the end, it's not just about the technology. It's about the stories we tell, the connections we make, and the legacies we leave behind.

 

When I release the beta app, I invite all of you to participate, for free.  I'm super excited about how we'll use this tech to connect our family generations and preserve or stories and wisdom forever.  Sign up here. Family Voices AI

The future is speaking. Are you ready to jump in an have a conversation?