Meta Acquires Voice AI Startup PlayAI

Meta has acquired PlayAI, an AI startup focused on voice technology, in a deal signed last week, although the details have not been disclosed. The teams will merge starting this week.

Meta continues its rapid push into AI development and its recruitment of top talent.

According to Bloomberg, the “entire PlayAI team” will be joining Meta this week, and will report to Johan Schalkwyk, of Sesame AI Inc, who also recently joined Meta. The outlet gained access to an internal memo confirming the information.

Just a few weeks ago, Meta also acquired the AI-training startup Scale AI for over $10 billion. While the details for the PlayAI have not been revealed to the public, the move aligns with Facebook’s parent company’s mission and its broader focus on AI development.

The memo states that PlayAI’s “work in creating natural voices, along with a platform for easy voice creation, is a great match for our work and road map, across AI Characters, Meta AI, Wearables, and audio content creation.”

PlayAI, founded in California in 2019, focuses on human-AI interactions. According to its website, its mission is “to make building delightful conversational AI voice experiences accessible to every business, developer, and tinkerer.”

Other AI startups specializing in voice technology have also been expanding rapidly.  ElevenLabs recently announced its expansion and goals for an IPO, expressing optimism and confidence in the growing AI market. “Voice will fundamentally be the interface for interacting with technology,” said ElevenLab’s CEO, Mati Staniszewski, a few days ago.

Meta is currently building an AI lab to develop superintelligence and has been attracting talented experts from its competitors—by offering impressive salaries and bonuses—as a strategy to beat other companies also developing the advanced technology, such as OpenAI.