a16z on AI Voices: Call Centers, Coaches, and Companions with Olivia Moore & Anish Acharya

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz speaks with Andreessen Horowitz partners Olivia Moore and Anish Acharya about the rapid evolution of voice AI technology and its real-world applications. The conversation explores how multimodal models, reduced latency, and improved emotional intelligence are enabling more natural voice interactions across various platforms including Hume AI's Octave model, Google's NotebookLM, and Sesame. Nathan and his guests discuss compelling business use cases—from Happy Robot handling complex negotiations with truckers to SMBs deploying voice AI for after-hours support—while also addressing philosophical questions about labor displacement and the urgent need for responsible innovation to protect consumers from potential AI voice scams. Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should not be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see https://a16z.com/disclosures/ . SPONSORS: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive Shopify: Shopify is revolutionizing online selling with its market-leading checkout system and robust API ecosystem. Its exclusive library of cutting-edge AI apps empowers e-commerce businesses to thrive in a competitive market. Cognitive Revolution listeners can try Shopify for just $1 per month at https://shopify.com/cognitive NetSuite: Over 41,000 businesses trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP, to future-proof their operations. With a unified platform for accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR, NetSuite provides real-time insights and forecasting to help you make quick, informed decisions. Whether you're earning millions or hundreds of millions, NetSuite empowers you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Download the free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at https://netsuite.com/cognitive PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing CHAPTERS: (00:00) About the Episode (03:39) Introduction and Welcome (03:50) AI Scouting Methods (08:25) Best Voice AI Experiences (11:34) Voice AI for Seniors (14:27) Sponsors: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) | Shopify (16:54) Voice Technology Challenges (20:48) Human-Like Conversation Dynamics (24:13) AI Voice Negotiations (27:34) Apple's Siri Delays (31:13) Voice AI Stack Evolution (Part 1) (33:16) Sponsors: NetSuite (34:49) Voice AI Stack Evolution (Part 2) (37:57) Context Assembly Challenges (40:48) Enterprise Voice Applications (46:30) Labor Market Impact (49:36) SMB Voice Solutions (50:53) Creator Voice Tools (52:17) AI for Children (56:18) AI Companionship and Romance (58:58) Ethical Guidelines Discussion (01:02:46) Future of Voice Computing (01:04:49) Outro