Meta Expands AI Push with Acquisition of Voice Startup Play AI
Meta has acquired Play AI, a startup specializing in the creation of human-like synthetic voices using artificial intelligence. This move is part of Meta’s ongoing expansion into voice and AI technologies.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the acquisition, as reported by Bloomberg. The publication also cited an internal memo indicating that the “entire PlayAI team” will join Meta next week. (TechCrunch has reached out to Meta for independent confirmation.)
Strategic Fit With Meta’s AI Vision
According to the memo, PlayAI’s innovations in natural voice generation and user-friendly voice creation tools align well with Meta’s current priorities. These priorities span several areas: AI Characters, Meta AI, wearable devices, and broader audio content initiatives. Because PlayAI’s capabilities directly support these domains, the acquisition appears to serve both technical and strategic purposes.
In recent months, Meta has aggressively increased its AI investments. For instance, it has recruited talent from OpenAI and entered a partnership with Scale AI. As part of that deal, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang joined Meta to head a new team focused on superintelligence.
Deal Details Remain Private
While Bloomberg had earlier reported that Meta and Play AI were in acquisition talks, the financial terms of the final deal have not been disclosed. However, given Meta’s recent AI activity, this acquisition seems consistent with its broader ambitions in the space.
