Anthropic adds Voice Mode to Claude AI as an answer to Gemini Live

Anthropic has begun rolling out a new feature to its Claude mobile app, bringing a fresh layer of interactivity to its AI assistant. The feature, known as voice mode, is currently in beta and is available in English for both iOS and Android devices. With this update, users can engage in real-time voice conversations with Claude, mirroring the functionality seen in competitors like Gemini Live from Google.

Designed for natural, two-way spoken interactions, voice mode allows users to talk to Claude and receive spoken responses in return. Notably, users can interrupt Claude mid-sentence, fostering a more fluid and realistic conversation dynamic. As Claude speaks, key points of the response appear on the user’s screen, offering visual context alongside the audio.

This launch comes just days after Anthropic unveiled its Claude Opus 4 model, a significant upgrade that touts advanced capabilities in areas like complex coding and reasoning tasks. The addition of voice mode further strengthens Claude’s versatility, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional chat interfaces and real-time conversation.

One of the standout features of voice mode is its flexibility. Users can switch between voice and text input seamlessly within the same conversation, with Claude maintaining the full context throughout. This hybrid interaction model enhances usability, particularly for multitaskers or those who prefer alternating between input methods depending on their situation.

Voice mode is being made available to all Claude users, regardless of their subscription tier. However, free users will face some limitations, typically receiving 20 to 30 voice messages per session before hitting a cap. On the other hand, paid subscribers benefit from higher usage thresholds and expanded integration capabilities.

For users on Claude’s paid plans, voice mode opens the door to even more powerful features. Those with a connected Google Workspace account can grant Claude access to tools like Google Calendar and Gmail, allowing the AI to assist with scheduling, email management, and more. Enterprise-level subscribers can take it even further, enabling Claude to access and analyze Google Docs, adding significant value for business and productivity workflows.

Accessing the new feature is straightforward. A microphone icon has been added to the text input area of the Claude mobile app, enabling users to launch voice mode with a single tap. To personalize the experience, users can choose from a limited set of voice options, each designed to deliver a natural and pleasant conversational tone.

Anthropic has taken special care to address privacy and safety concerns during the development of voice mode. The company opted for preset voices only, deliberately avoiding open-ended voice synthesis capabilities to prevent potential voice cloning abuses. In addition, Anthropic continues to enforce its established safety protocols, including misuse detection systems and policy compliance mechanisms, to ensure that voice interactions remain secure and respectful of user privacy.