Anthropic is reportedly working on a highly anticipated voice mode feature for its AI chatbot, Claude. The company, based in San Francisco, is expected to launch the new feature as early as this month, marking a significant shift for the AI firm. While competitors like OpenAI and Google have already integrated voice capabilities into their chatbots—such as ChatGPT’s voice feature and Gemini’s similar tool—Claude has so far only offered text-based interactions. This move comes shortly after Anthropic introduced an educational subscription plan, mirroring OpenAI’s Edu offering, signaling the company’s broader push into more dynamic AI tools.
The new voice mode feature is expected to be rolled out gradually, with a Bloomberg report suggesting that the feature could begin rolling out in April. Initially, it will be available to a select group of users, with plans possibly subject to change. The inclusion of voice capabilities would place Claude on a more competitive footing with its peers, allowing users to interact with the AI in a more natural, conversational manner. The voice mode is likely to make the AI experience more immersive, combining the capabilities of voice recognition with Claude’s advanced text-based responses.
According to sources familiar with the development, the feature will include three distinct voices: Airy, Mellow, and Buttery. Notably, Buttery is expected to feature a British accent, adding a unique element to the AI’s vocal range. The discovery of this feature was first noted by an app researcher named “M1Astra,” who found clues about the voices in the code of Claude’s iOS app. However, details about the voice mode remain sparse, and it is unclear whether the feature will serve as a basic text-to-speech function or if it will feature more advanced, human-like voice synthesis, akin to ChatGPT’s more sophisticated voice interaction system.
Anthropic’s delayed entry into the voice chatbot arena comes as major players in the AI space, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, have already rolled out voice-based features. Meta, too, is reportedly developing a two-way voice chat mode for its Meta AI, further intensifying the competition. As Anthropic looks to add this new functionality to Claude, it will be interesting to see how the feature stacks up against the already established voice capabilities of its rivals. The feature’s availability to all users or its potential restriction to premium subscribers is also yet to be determined, leaving room for further speculation about the company’s future plans.