Anthropic is preparing to introduce voice functionality to its AI assistant, Claude, with a limited release expected this month, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources and an analysis of Claude’s iOS app code. The upcoming voice mode will reportedly offer users a choice of three voices. While details remain subject to change, this move signals Anthropic’s entry into the growing voice AI space.
On the same day, Anthropic officially announced two new features for Claude. The first, called Research, enables Claude to search across both a user’s internal work data and the web to deliver more useful results. The second is a Google Workspace integration, allowing Claude to access a user’s emails, calendar, and documents. These updates are part of the company’s broader effort to enhance Claude’s usefulness and support deeper collaboration.
Anthropic stated that these enhancements are only the beginning. In the coming weeks, Claude is expected to support additional content sources and expand its research capabilities to provide more in-depth insights.
Voice AI is becoming a key area of competition among tech companies. In 2024, both Meta and OpenAI rolled out voice capabilities in their AI platforms, with Meta even including celebrity voices. These features aim to make digital interactions feel more natural and personalized. Industry experts suggest that voice technology has the potential to strengthen emotional connections between users and AI-driven services.
Interest in voice assistants had been declining in recent years, but the rise of generative AI may be reversing that trend. A PYMNTS Intelligence report noted that while traditional voice assistant usage has stagnated, generative AI is gaining traction across age groups. Familiarity with GenAI is particularly high among Gen Z and zillennials, while awareness among older generations is also growing.
