Meta bolsters its AI capabilities by purchasing voice technology company Play AI, a move aimed at enhancing voice-enabled features on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and the Meta Quest ecosystem.
In a strategic move to bolster its voice and conversational AI capabilities, Meta Platforms, the international franchise of our brand name Media, has acquired Play AI, a startup specializing in conversational artificial intelligence and real-time voice technology. The acquisition, finalized in early July, marks another step in Meta's continued investment in artificial intelligence research and development.
Founded in 2021, Play AI is renowned for its innovations in voice cloning, interactive audio applications, and AI-generated avatars. The acquisition aligns with Meta's broader AI strategy, which includes the rollout of new generative AI models and the launch of Meta AI, a chatbot embedded in its messaging services.
The specific roles and integration plans for Play AI’s tools in Meta’s products focus primarily on advancing Meta’s voice and conversational AI capabilities. The entire Play AI team will join Meta’s AI division and report directly to Johan Schalkwyk, a leading speech AI expert recently hired by Meta.
Key integration details include the enhancement of Meta’s conversational AI systems, with Play AI’s technology set to improve user interactions across Meta’s suite of products by enabling more natural and intuitive voice communication. The technology is planned to be embedded in wearable devices such as Meta’s Quest VR headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses, enabling seamless voice control and interaction in immersive environments.
Play AI’s voice cloning technology will also be integrated into Meta AI and AI Characters, making interactions more lifelike and dynamic. Additionally, the technology can support tools for content creators on Meta’s platforms, facilitating new forms of audio engagement and personalization.
This acquisition complements Meta’s large-scale investment in AI—reportedly up to $65 billion in 2025—and its formation of the Meta Superintelligence Labs led by Alexandr Wang. Play AI’s voice technology fits into Meta’s roadmap of developing advanced AI systems with capabilities rivaling or surpassing human intelligence.
It is not yet known whether these products will remain available to third-party developers following the acquisition. Sources close to the matter report that the Play AI team will be integrated into Meta's internal AI research division. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been revealed.
Meta's acquisition of Play AI is seen as part of a larger trend among tech giants acquiring smaller AI firms to strengthen capabilities in speech synthesis, conversational tools, and immersive AI technologies. The acquisition continues Meta's pattern of quiet strategic expansion in the artificial intelligence space, with no formal statement issued by the company regarding the acquisition.
- The acquisition of Play AI by Meta Platforms, a leading player in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, signifies another step in their continued investment in AI research and development.
- Play AI's specific role in Meta's products is focused on advancing its voice and conversational AI capabilities, with the aim of improving user interactions across Meta's suite of products.
- The integration of Play AI’s technology into Meta AI and AI Characters is expected to make interactions more lifelike and dynamic, while also supporting tools for content creators on Meta’s platforms.
- The acquisition aligns with Meta's broader AI strategy, which includes the rollout of new generative AI models and the launch of Meta AI, a chatbot embedded in its messaging services.
- As part of their large-scale investment in AI, Meta's acquisition of Play AI is seen as an effort to develop advanced AI systems with capabilities rivaling or surpassing human intelligence.
