Smallest.ai raises $13M to build ultra-fast voice AI that sounds genuinely human
TechCrunch AI Marina Temkin ● Covered by 3 sources
Smallest.ai, a startup founded in late 2024, raised $13 million in Series A funding to develop specialized small voice models designed for real-time conversational AI that processes speech more naturally by listening, thinking, and responding simultaneously rather than waiting for full prompts. The company's approach uses small models for real-time customer interactions with virtually zero response lag, handing off complex queries to large language models only when needed, and has already attracted customers including RingCentral and Truecaller. This funding, bringing total capital to over $21 million, positions the startup to compete with voice AI providers like ElevenLabs by focusing exclusively on making AI agents indistinguishable from human conversation partners in customer support scenarios.
Why it matters
The startup is building voice models designed to make AI phone calls pass the Turing test.
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