The way people interact with technology is on the verge of a major shift—and Voice AI is at the center of it. According to Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabs, voice is quickly becoming the most natural and powerful interface for artificial intelligence.
Speaking at Web Summit in Doha, Staniszewski said recent breakthroughs have pushed voice models far beyond simply sounding human. By combining expressive speech—emotion, tone, and rhythm—with the reasoning power of large language models, AI systems are beginning to communicate in ways that feel intuitive rather than mechanical.
In the coming years, Staniszewski suggested, users may rely less on screens altogether. Phones could stay in pockets, while voice becomes the primary way people control and interact with technology in real-world environments.
Why the Industry Is Betting Big on Voice AI
This vision is not unique to ElevenLabs. Across the tech sector, Voice AI is emerging as a strategic priority. Companies like OpenAI and Google have placed voice at the core of their next-generation models, while Apple has quietly expanded its capabilities through acquisitions focused on always-on and voice-adjacent technologies.
As AI spreads beyond smartphones into cars, wearables, and ambient computing devices, traditional inputs like keyboards and touchscreens are starting to feel limiting. Voice, by contrast, allows for hands-free, eyes-free interaction—making it especially well-suited for a future filled with smart glasses, earbuds, and mixed-reality hardware.
That broader industry momentum helped fuel ElevenLabs’ recent $500 million funding round, which valued the company at $11 billion.
From Commands to Conversations
Iconiq Capital general partner Seth Pierrepont echoed this shift during the same Web Summit discussion, noting that while screens will remain important for entertainment and gaming, typing and tapping increasingly feel outdated for everyday AI use.
As systems become more agentic, the interaction model itself is evolving. Instead of issuing precise commands, users will rely on AI that understands context, remembers preferences, and responds proactively. Staniszewski described this as a move toward persistent memory, where Voice AI builds understanding over time and reduces the need for repetitive instructions.
That change could make conversations with machines feel closer to human dialogue—fluid, contextual, and continuous—rather than a series of isolated prompts.
Cloud, Device, and the Always-On Future
Today, most high-quality voice models operate in the cloud. But Staniszewski said ElevenLabs is working toward a hybrid approach that blends cloud-based intelligence with on-device processing. This shift is designed to support new hardware categories where Voice AI is always present, not something users consciously “turn on.”
Headphones, smart glasses, and other wearables are expected to play a major role in this transition. ElevenLabs is already partnering with Meta to integrate its voice technology into products like Instagram and Horizon Worlds, and Staniszewski indicated openness to expanding that collaboration into Meta’s smart glasses ecosystem.
The Privacy Question Looms Large
As Voice AI becomes more embedded in daily life, it also raises serious questions. Always-on voice systems could collect deeply personal data, from casual conversations to sensitive moments, intensifying concerns around privacy and surveillance.
Technology companies have faced criticism in the past over how voice data is stored and used, and those concerns are likely to grow as voice becomes the default interface. Staniszewski acknowledged that trust will be critical, suggesting that companies deploying Voice AI will need to balance convenience with transparency and strong safeguards.
A Shift That’s Already Underway
While the idea of screens fading away may sound futuristic, the transition toward Voice AI is already happening. From virtual assistants and customer support to social platforms and immersive environments, speech is becoming the most direct bridge between humans and machines.
If Staniszewski’s vision plays out, the next computing revolution won’t be defined by what users see—but by what they say.
Don’t miss out on our latest news—follow us for the latest AI news, breakthroughs, and insights that matter.