Truecaller and Microsoft will allow users to make an AI voice to answer calls

Truecaller is an app that identifies and blocks unwanted calls that some people prefer over their phone’s default system. Now, the service will allow users with access to its AI assistant to record their voice. The company has partnered with Microsoft’s Azure AI Speech, which will learn from the recorded clip to generate an AI version of the user’s voice.

“This revolutionary capability not only adds a touch of familiarity and comfort for users, but also showcases the power of AI to transform the way we interact with our digital assistants,” says Raphael Mimoun, Chief Product Officer and Director general of Truecaller, in the blog.

Truecaller’s AI assistant filters incoming calls and lets users know why they are calling. Customers can see the reason for the call and choose how to respond, either by picking up the phone or asking the assistant to answer for them. Assistant, available only in select countries, was first introduced on the Truecaller app in 2022.

Users have always had the option to choose from a predefined number of voices to represent them, and the company says that allowing users to record their own voices is a step in further personalizing the service.

Azure AI Speech, introduced at the Build conference, added a personal voice feature that allows users to record and replicate voices. Microsoft says in a blog post, however, that Personal Voice is available on a limited basis and only for specific use cases like voice assistants.

Microsoft says it automatically adds watermarks to voices generated by Azure AI Speech Personal Voice. It also issued a code of conduct requiring users to obtain full consent from those registered and prohibiting any identity theft.

It remains to be seen how well personal voice will work compared to your own voice message.