ElevenLabs Expands AI-Powered Voice Reader App Globally with Support for 32 Languages, Competing with Leading Text-to-Speech Tools

ELEVENLABS LAUNCHES READER APP WORLDWIDE WITH EXPANDED LANGUAGE SUPPORT 

ElevenLabs Expands AI-Powered Voice Reader App Globally with Support for 32 Languages, Competing with Leading Text-to-Speech Tools

ElevenLabs, a startup specializing in AI-driven tools for creating and editing synthetic voices, has rolled out its Reader app globally, now supporting 32 languages. Initially launched in June in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, the Reader app allows users to upload and listen to text content such as articles, PDFs, and e-books in various languages and voices. Among the supported languages are Portuguese, Spanish, French, Hindi, German, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Italian, Tamil, and Swedish.

Expansion Fueled by New Turbo v2.5 Model

The global expansion of the Reader app is powered by ElevenLabs' Turbo v2.5 model, which was released last month. This model is designed to enhance the quality and reduce the latency of text-to-speech conversion, making the app more efficient and user-friendly. Alongside the extended language support, ElevenLabs has introduced hundreds of new voices tailored to different languages, further enriching the user experience.

Competing in the Text-to-Speech Market

The Reader app faces competition from other text-to-speech tools like Speechify, which offers additional features such as document scanning, Gmail and Canvas integration, and the ability to clone the user's voice for text reading. Other notable competitors include Mozilla-owned Pocket and The New York Times’ Audm-based audio app, which also provide text-to-audio conversion services.

ElevenLabs’ Growth and Market Presence

Earlier this year, ElevenLabs achieved unicorn status after raising $80 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz. The company offers an API for businesses to integrate voice interactions into various applications, including dubbing and text-to-speech functionalities. ElevenLabs powers voice interactions on platforms like Rabbit r1, AI-driven search engine Perplexity, and audio services Pocket FM and Kuku FM. The Reader app marks ElevenLabs' first venture into consumer-facing products.

Future Enhancements and Features

Looking ahead, ElevenLabs plans to introduce additional features to the Reader app, such as offline support and the ability to share audio snippets. These upcoming enhancements aim to further solidify the app’s position in the competitive text-to-speech market, offering users more versatility and functionality. 

Licensing and Content Creation

Last month, ElevenLabs licensed the voices of iconic actors, including Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, and Sir Laurence Olivier, to use in the Reader app. This move adds a nostalgic element to the app, allowing users to listen to content in the voices of legendary actors, further distinguishing ElevenLabs in the growing field of synthetic voice technology.