Truecaller introduces an AI assistant to answer spam calls in your voice

Truecaller is set to revolutionise how smartphone users handle spam calls with a new AI-powered feature. This innovation, developed in collaboration with Microsoft’s Azure AI Speech technology, allows subscribed users to have an AI assistant answer calls using their own voices. This groundbreaking feature, available exclusively to paid users, can replicate the user’s voice, make responses, greet callers, and provide system-generated call options.

The AI-powered assistant, first introduced by Truecaller in 2022, offers various functionalities. It can screen unknown calls, take messages, respond on behalf of users, and even record conversations.

To activate the voice replication feature, users need to record a brief script and give consent for the app to create a digital replica of their voice. Once set up, this AI feature uses the recorded voice to handle incoming calls.

While Truecaller allows users to edit the greetings provided by the AI, customisation of the personal voice is limited. This restriction ensures that the voice remains clearly identifiable as a digital version. However, users can still tailor the responses to suit their preferences. To maintain transparency and authenticity, the personal voice feature from Azure AI Speech includes a watermark on speech outputs, detectable by tools designed to identify synthetic audio.

This advanced technology is currently available only through limited registration-only access. Truecaller plans to roll out the personal assistant voice feature in the coming weeks in several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, Sweden, and Chile.