Image Credit: Truecaller
Truecaller is a popular smartphone application designed to identify and block spam calls and messages. It offers a range of features aimed at enhancing user experience and security in communication. Here's a comprehensive overview of Truecaller:
Key Features of Truecaller
Caller Identification: Truecaller helps users identify incoming calls from unknown numbers. By leveraging a vast database of phone numbers, the app can display the caller's name, even if the number is not saved in the user's contact list.
Spam Blocking: Truecaller automatically blocks spam and telemarketing calls. It maintains an extensive list of known spammers and updates it regularly, providing users with an added layer of protection against unwanted calls.
Call Recording: The app allows users to record calls. This feature can be useful for keeping records of important conversations, interviews, or meetings conducted over the phone.
Smart Messaging: Truecaller includes a built-in messaging platform that supports SMS and chat. It identifies spam messages and separates them from important communications.
AI Assistant: Truecaller’s AI Assistant can answer, screen, and record calls on behalf of the user. It uses advanced artificial intelligence to handle calls effectively and provide users with detailed information about missed calls.
Personal Voice Feature: Recently introduced, this feature allows users to create a digital replica of their voice using Microsoft’s Azure AI speech technology. This personalized voice can be used by the AI Assistant to answer calls, making interactions more familiar and comfortable.
Truecaller Unveils Customizable AI-Powered Personal Voice Feature
Truecaller, the renowned caller identification and spam-blocking app, has unveiled an innovative AI-powered 'personal voice' feature that users can customize to sound like their own voice. This new feature, leveraging Microsoft's Azure AI speech technology, allows users to create a personalized digital assistant that answers calls on their behalf, adding a unique touch of familiarity and comfort.
A New Era of Digital Communication
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| Image Credit: Truecaller |
Truecaller has been at the forefront of transforming how we handle phone calls, especially with its AI assistant launched in 2022. The assistant initially offered capabilities such as answering, recording, and screening calls. With the introduction of the 'personal voice' feature, Truecaller is taking another significant step forward. Users can now have their calls answered in their own AI-replicated voice without picking up the phone.
Raphael Mimoun, Product Director and General Manager of Truecaller Israel, highlighted the impact of this development: "The personal voice feature allows our users to use their own voice, enabling the digital assistant to sound like them when handling incoming calls. 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."
Setting Up Your Personal Voice
To utilize this new feature, follow these steps:
1. Update the App: Download or update the Truecaller app on your smartphone.
2. Subscribe: Subscribe to Truecaller Premium, they offer a discounted price of $10.99 for the first three months or $29 per year in USA.
3. Configure Settings: Navigate to the Assistant settings within the app.
4. Record Your Voice: Follow the on-screen instructions to record your voice, which will be used as a reference for the AI.
Once set up, the AI assistant will use your voice to handle incoming calls, ensuring a seamless and personalized interaction.
Enhancing Call Management
Truecaller’s AI assistant functions as a virtual shield against unwanted calls. When a call is missed, the assistant, in your customized voice, inquires about the caller's identity and purpose. This conversation is then converted to text and displayed on your screen, allowing you to decide whether to answer or block the call. This feature not only saves time but also adds an extra layer of security against spam and robocalls.
Collaboration with Microsoft
The partnership between Truecaller and Microsoft has been instrumental in bringing this feature to life. Using Microsoft's Azure AI speech technology, Truecaller has enabled users to create an AI assistant that sounds remarkably like them. This involves users recording a sentence giving consent and a training script to capture their speaking style. The AI then uses this data to create a convincing digital replica of the user's voice.
During a product demo, Mimoun’s digital assistant answered a call with: "Hi there! I'm digital Raphael Mimoun! May I ask who's calling?" This realistic interaction exemplifies the potential of AI in enhancing user experience.
Ensuring Transparency and Security
To maintain transparency, the AI assistant informs callers that they are speaking to a digital version of the user. Truecaller has also implemented security measures to prevent misuse, such as adding watermarks to synthetic speech outputs and restricting access to registered users only.
Broader Implications and Future Prospects
This new feature by Truecaller marks a significant advancement in AI-powered communication. It offers a more personalized and engaging experience for both users and their callers. Microsoft's Azure AI speech technology's application extends beyond Truecaller, with companies like Wondershare integrating similar capabilities into their video editing tools for creating audiobooks and podcasts.
Truecaller’s personalized voice feature is set to roll out in several countries, including the US, Canada, and India, in the coming weeks. As AI continues to evolve, the possibilities for personalized digital interactions are boundless, heralding a new era of communication technology.
Truecaller is a robust tool designed to enhance the way users handle phone calls and messages. With its advanced caller identification, spam blocking, and innovative AI features, it provides a comprehensive solution to manage communication efficiently and securely. Whether for personal or professional use, Truecaller helps users stay connected while minimizing disruptions from unwanted calls and messages.