Why AI Voice Feels More Human Than Ever

This podcast interviews Anish Acharya and Olivia Moore from a16z about the breakthrough moment for AI voice technology. The discussion covers the technological advancements enabling realistic and emotionally intelligent AI voices, the shift from basic IVR systems to sophisticated LLM-powered agents, and the various applications emerging in both B2B (call centers, recruiting) and B2C (therapy, education) sectors. A key takeaway is that many businesses are already using AI voice agents for thousands of calls daily, often without consumers realizing it. The podcast also explores innovative pricing models for AI voice services, moving beyond per-minute charges to platform fees and outcome-based pricing.