The next wave of generative AI is shifting from text to AI voice Services, and Google is moving quickly to stay ahead. The company has announced that Chirp 3, its latest speech-to-text and HD text-to-speech model, will be integrated into Vertex AI starting next week.
The announcement follows Google’s recent rollout of eight new voices across 31 languages for Chirp 3. The model is designed for a variety of applications, including voice assistants, audiobooks, customer support agents, and video voice-overs. Google made the announcement at its DeepMind offices in London, signaling a major push into AI-driven voice technology.
The Competitive Landscape in AI Voice Services
However, Google is not alone in this race. Sesame, the startup behind the viral Maya and Miles AI voice apps, has just introduced its own developer model for customized voice-based applications. Meanwhile, ElevenLabs, a leader in AI-powered voice services, has secured hundreds of millions in funding to expand its platform.
With AI-generated voices becoming more realistic, Google is implementing safety measures to prevent misuse. “We’re working through some of these concerns with our safety team,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, at a press event.
Chirp 3 now joins Google’s expanding Vertex AI suite, which includes:
- Gemini (Google’s flagship large language model)
- Imagen (AI image generation tool)
- Veo 2 (advanced AI-powered video generation tool)
The industry is however watching closely to see how Chirp 3 compares to Sesame’s and ElevenLabs’ AI voice technologies. Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, pointed out that despite rapid AI advancements, artificial general intelligence (AGI) remains years away. “AI isn’t a silver bullet—it will reshape industries over the next decade,” he said.
Google launched Vertex AI in 2021 to provide cloud-based machine learning tools for developers. Since then, the company has positioned the platform as a critical piece in its strategy to compete with Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI in the generative AI space. Developers using Vertex AI can classify data, train models, and deploy AI systems for production, with Chirp 3 now adding enhanced voice capabilities to the mix.
As Google expands its AI ecosystem, one key question remains: Will Vertex AI open up to third-party models, or will it remain a walled garden for Google’s own AI innovations?
Google actively developed Chirp-branded voice technology for years, initially aiming to compete with Amazon Alexa. As voice AI advances at an unprecedented pace, Chirp 3 is driving the next phase of AI-powered interaction.
