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London startup Relay, founded by former Nothing staffers Cookie Xu and Raymond Zhu, has released voice dictation software for macOS ahead of a companion hardware device called the Relay Q, due in early 2027. The founders say existing software tools like Wispr Flow struggled with inconsistent microphone pickup in office settings, prompting them to build purpose-made hardware for accurate speech capture.
Netflix has released a trailer for an upcoming game show, 'Wonka's The Golden Ticket,' in which contestants navigate a hazardous chocolate factory guided by an AI-recreated voice resembling Gene Wilder's iconic Willy Wonka. The trailer's unsettling tone has drawn comparisons to horror rather than family entertainment, sparking online discussion.
Google has released three new Gemini Audio models: 3.5 Transcribe, 3.5 Live, and 3.5 Live Experimental. Transcribe automatically strips out filler words like 'um' and 'uh', formats text, adapts to custom vocabulary and jargon, and can identify up to three speakers with word-level timestamps. The Live models improve handling of interruptions, multilingual recognition, and real-time reasoning narration for voice chat.
Indian voice AI startup Ringg has secured a $10 million extension to its Series A from Peak XV Partners, bringing the round total to $15.5 million. The company, which processes 20 million call attempts monthly for clients like Cred, Flipkart, Practo and Policybazaar, is shifting from simple outbound calling toward complex workflows such as healthcare appointment booking and fintech KYC checks. Ringg is also expanding beyond phone calls into chat and WhatsApp channels, and automating browser-based support for clients like Shell.
Threat intelligence firm SOCRadar has exposed AnonyMousKIT, a phishing-as-a-service platform active since early 2024 that automates theft of Apple Activation Lock codes needed to unlock stolen iPhones. The operation spans 506 domains and 168 reseller storefronts, and uses AI-driven voice calls impersonating Apple to trick victims into handing over unlock credentials, iCloud data, and Keychain passwords.
Several Google Home owners report that asking their smart speakers to add items to Google Keep lists no longer works, even though the assistant correctly recognizes the voice command. In some cases the device merely states how many items are already on a list instead of adding anything new, and one user found it worked for a list named 'Shopping list' but not others. Google has not yet confirmed the cause, and the Notes & lists settings in the Google Home app appear to hint that voice-based list access may have been altered or removed.
Ollobot argues that early companion robots from 2017 relied on simple voice commands and novelty, causing many to be abandoned once their appeal faded and some manufacturers shut down. The company is now framing a new generation of robots built with psychological research and clinical insight, aiming to shift from reactive gadgets to proactive, ever-present companions for isolated groups like elderly adults living alone and children separated from migrant parents.
Drivers experiencing Siri going silent or unresponsive during CarPlay use may not be facing an Apple problem at all. The issue can stem from iPhone settings, a faulty CarPlay connection, or limitations in the vehicle's own infotainment system rather than Siri itself. Users can typically activate Siri by holding the car's voice-command button or the CarPlay Home button, though 'Hey Siri' support varies by vehicle.