a16z Podcast

Why AI Voice Feels More Human Than Ever

Anish Acharya, Olivia Moore, and Steph Smith

Posted March 18, 2025

AI voice technology has been around for years — think Siri or Alexa — but the magic has been missing. That’s changing, and quickly!

In this episode, Anish Acharya, General Partner at a16z, and Olivia Moore, Partner at a16z, explore why AI voice is reaching a breakthrough moment, how today’s models feel more human than ever, and why voice is poised to become the primary way people interact with AI.

With businesses already making tens of thousands of AI-driven phone calls daily, AI-powered conversations are no longer a distant vision—they’re happening now. Whether it’s AI companions, customer service bots, or enterprise applications, voice tech is here—and it’s improving faster than anyone expected.

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The a16z Podcast discusses the most important ideas within technology with the people building it. Each episode aims to put listeners ahead of the curve, covering topics like AI, energy, genomics, space, and more.

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