Truecaller partnered with Microsoft’s Azure AI Speech for users of its AI assistant.

Truecaller, known for its app that identifies and blocks spam calls, is introducing a new feature that allows users to create an AI version of their voice to answer calls. This feature is part of Truecaller’s AI Assistant, which users can now personalize by recording their own voice. The AI, developed in partnership with Microsoft’s Azure AI Speech, will learn from the recorded clip to generate an AI version of the user’s voice.

“This groundbreaking capability not only adds a touch of familiarity and comfort for the users but also showcases the power of AI in transforming the way we interact with our digital assistants,” said Truecaller Product Director and General Manager Raphael Mimoun in a blog post.

The AI Assistant, first introduced in 2022 and available only in select countries, screens incoming calls and informs users of the caller’s reason. Users can then decide whether to answer the call themselves or let the AI Assistant respond. Previously, users could choose from a set of preset voices, but the new feature allows for greater personalization by using the user’s own recorded voice.

Azure AI Speech, highlighted during the Build conference, features a personal voice option that lets users record and replicate voices. Microsoft notes that personal voice is currently available on a limited basis for specific applications like voice assistants. Additionally, voices generated by Azure AI Speech’s personal voice automatically include watermarks, and Microsoft has implemented a code of conduct requiring full consent from people being recorded and prohibiting impersonation.

The effectiveness of the AI-generated personal voice compared to a traditional voicemail message remains to be seen.