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AI Voice Tech: From Bad Dubbing to Hollywood Stars
14 May
Summary
- Company founded due to frustration with poorly dubbed movies.
- AI audio firm ElevenLabs has raised $500 million in funding.
- Voice actors express concern over AI's impact on livelihoods.
Mati Staniszewski, co-founder of ElevenLabs, describes the company's inception stemming from dissatisfaction with low-quality movie dubbing in Poland. Established in 2021, ElevenLabs has emerged as a dominant AI audio company, securing $500 million in funding by February 2026. Its sophisticated text-to-speech technology is widely used by corporations for customer service and by YouTubers for video translation.
The company is increasingly influential in traditional entertainment, partnering with notable figures. Michael Caine has licensed his voice, Liza Minnelli is collaborating on music, and ElevenLabs revived James Earl Jones's voice for Darth Vader in Fortnite. Additionally, Gordon Ramsay's voice will feature in MasterClass content.
Notable investor Matthew McConaughey uses ElevenLabs to translate his newsletter and praises its storytelling capabilities. Staniszewski calls their partnership a "surreal moment." However, the company faces criticism regarding the potential displacement of voiceover artists, who were instrumental in its founding. ElevenLabs settled a lawsuit last year from actors alleging misappropriation, which the company denied.
Staniszewski acknowledges the transformative nature of technological shifts on work. He encourages those concerned about ElevenLabs' expansion to explore the technology themselves, suggesting it can enhance their creative processes and broaden storytelling opportunities.
