ElevenLabs, the AI voice‑generation startup, announced it has reached $330 million in annual recurring revenue. The company, founded in 2022 and launched its first product in 2023, achieved rapid growth, hitting $100 million ARR in 20 months, $200 million in 10 months and the current level in five months. Fortune 500 firms and emerging startups are adopting its voice‑agent platform, which powers customer support and experience interactions. Enterprises have deployed the technology to handle more than 50,000 calls each month. The firm recently closed a $180 million Series C round co‑led by a16z and ICONIQ Growth, pushing its valuation to $3.3 billion, and later secured an additional $100 million from ICONIQ and Sequoia. ElevenLabs also expanded its offerings with music‑creation tools and celebrity voice partnerships. Read more →

Voice remains the dominant channel for high‑stakes customer interactions, and artificial intelligence is giving it a fresh, powerful boost. New speech‑recognition and natural‑language‑processing technologies let AI understand context, emotion, and nuance, turning traditional IVR menus into conversational assistants. AI works alongside human agents, delivering real‑time data, response suggestions, and sentiment analysis, which reduces friction and improves resolution rates. The technology also harvests insights from thousands of calls, helping businesses spot trends, fix root causes, and enhance inclusivity. Companies that integrate AI‑enhanced voice into a seamless, omnichannel experience can deliver faster, more personal service while maintaining brand consistency. Read more →

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach. Read more →

Voice remains the dominant channel for high‑stakes customer interactions, and artificial intelligence is giving it a fresh, powerful boost. New speech‑recognition and natural‑language‑processing technologies let AI understand context, emotion, and nuance, turning traditional IVR menus into conversational assistants. AI works alongside human agents, delivering real‑time data, response suggestions, and sentiment analysis, which reduces friction and improves resolution rates. The technology also harvests insights from thousands of calls, helping businesses spot trends, fix root causes, and enhance inclusivity. Companies that integrate AI‑enhanced voice into a seamless, omnichannel experience can deliver faster, more personal service while maintaining brand consistency. Read more →

Voice remains the dominant channel for high‑stakes customer interactions, and artificial intelligence is giving it a fresh, powerful boost. New speech‑recognition and natural‑language‑processing technologies let AI understand context, emotion, and nuance, turning traditional IVR menus into conversational assistants. AI works alongside human agents, delivering real‑time data, response suggestions, and sentiment analysis, which reduces friction and improves resolution rates. The technology also harvests insights from thousands of calls, helping businesses spot trends, fix root causes, and enhance inclusivity. Companies that integrate AI‑enhanced voice into a seamless, omnichannel experience can deliver faster, more personal service while maintaining brand consistency. Read more →

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach. Read more →

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach. Read more →

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach. Read more →

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach. Read more →

Voice remains the dominant channel for high‑stakes customer interactions, and artificial intelligence is giving it a fresh, powerful boost. New speech‑recognition and natural‑language‑processing technologies let AI understand context, emotion, and nuance, turning traditional IVR menus into conversational assistants. AI works alongside human agents, delivering real‑time data, response suggestions, and sentiment analysis, which reduces friction and improves resolution rates. The technology also harvests insights from thousands of calls, helping businesses spot trends, fix root causes, and enhance inclusivity. Companies that integrate AI‑enhanced voice into a seamless, omnichannel experience can deliver faster, more personal service while maintaining brand consistency. Read more →

Taco Bell’s chief digital officer says the chain is actively debating when to rely on voice‑AI ordering at its drive‑throughs. While the technology has been rolled out at more than 500 locations, viral incidents—such as a customer ordering 18,000 water cups to bypass the AI—highlight challenges. Chief Digital and Technology Officer Dane Matthews acknowledges both failures and surprising successes, noting that human staff may need to step in during busy periods. The company plans to give franchisees flexibility, recommending AI use when appropriate and encouraging monitoring and human intervention when needed. Read more →