ElevenLabs CEO Warns Voice AI Will Transform Society, Raises Questions About Control

The chief executive of ElevenLabs, a leading voice artificial intelligence company, has predicted that voice AI technology will fundamentally transform multiple aspects of society, from healthcare to entertainment, while acknowledging significant concerns about potential misuse.

In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski discussed the rapidly evolving landscape of voice AI technology, which his company is helping to pioneer. The technology has demonstrated remarkable capabilities, including restoring speech for individuals who have lost their voices due to illness or injury.

However, Staniszewski also addressed the darker applications of voice AI, particularly the growing threat of deepfakes and voice cloning used for fraudulent purposes. The technology can now replicate human voices with startling accuracy, raising critical questions about consent, authenticity, and regulation.

The ElevenLabs CEO explored where the ethical boundaries lie in developing and deploying voice AI systems. As the technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, governments and industry leaders are grappling with how to establish appropriate safeguards without stifling innovation.

Voice AI represents one of the most rapidly advancing frontiers in artificial intelligence, with applications ranging from audiobook narration and voice assistants to accessibility tools and content creation. Staniszewski's comments highlight the urgent need for thoughtful governance frameworks as these transformative technologies become increasingly integrated into daily life.