Truecaller has introduced a new feature that allows “paying customers” to use its AI-powered Assistant to answer phone calls using their own voices. This innovation is made possible through a partnership with Microsoft, leveraging the tech giant’s Personal Voice technology, which was launched in November as part of Azure AI Speech.
Truecaller’s AI Assistant, a service available to paid users, can now replicate a user’s voice to greet and respond to callers, in addition to offering system-generated voice options. Launched in September 2022, the assistant can also screen unknown calls, take messages, respond on behalf of the user, and even record calls.
To get started on the feature, Truecaller users must record a short script in their voice, providing the necessary consent to create a digital replica. Once set up, the Assistant can start answering calls using this synthetic voice. Although users can typically edit the introductory greeting for callers, Truecaller has limited this customisation for personal voices to ensure it is clear that the voice is a digital version. However, follow-up responses can still be tailored according to user preferences.
Azure AI Speech’s personal voice feature includes a watermark on speech outputs, which allows a detector tool to identify synthetic audio, ensuring transparency and authenticity. This technology is currently available through limited registration-only access.
“The personal voice feature allows our users to use their own voice, enabling the digital assistant to sound just like them when handling incoming calls,” Raphael Mimoun, product director and general manager, Truecaller Israel said in a prepared statement. “This groundbreaking capability not only adds a touch of familiarity and comfort for the users but also showcases the power of AI in transforming the way we interact with our digital assistants.”
Truecaller plans to roll out the personal voice feature of its Assistant over the next few weeks, initially targeting the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, Sweden, and Chile. It will first be available to public beta users before being extended to all users in these regions.
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