Speechify Enhances Chrome Extension with Voice Typing and Assistant Features
Speechify, a company renowned for its text-to-speech capabilities, has expanded its Chrome extension to include voice typing and a voice assistant, marking a significant advancement in voice recognition technology.
Over the past year, the landscape of voice detection tools has evolved, driven by improvements in speech recognition models. Speechify has embraced this trend by introducing an English-supported dictation tool that not only transcribes speech but also corrects errors and eliminates filler words, enhancing the overall user experience.
In practical use, the voice typing feature performs well on platforms like Gmail and Google Docs. However, users have reported challenges when using it on sites such as WordPress, where initiating voice dictation can be problematic. Speechify acknowledges these issues and is actively working to optimize the tool for a broader range of popular websites.
Accuracy is a critical aspect of any voice recognition tool. Currently, Speechify’s word error rate is higher compared to competitors like Wispr Flow, Willow, and Monologue. The company emphasizes that its model improves with usage, promising a gradual decrease in error rates as the system learns from user interactions.
Beyond voice typing, Speechify has introduced a conversational voice assistant integrated into the browser’s sidebar. This assistant can answer questions related to the current webpage, such as summarizing key points or simplifying complex information. This feature positions Speechify as a direct competitor to existing conversational AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.
Rohan Pavuluri, Speechify’s Chief Business Officer, highlights the company’s commitment to prioritizing voice interactions:
We believe that chat will always be the default user experience in ChatGPT and Gemini when you open the apps. That’s what their users expect. Voice will always be secondary – and in many cases, an afterthought for ChatGPT and Gemini. We know from several years of building Speechify that there’s a large portion of the market, which includes our users, who want voice as the primary, default setting every time they open an app and talk to AI.
Currently, Speechify’s assistant is not compatible with browsers that have built-in sidebar assistants, such as OpenAI’s Atlas, Perplexity’s Comet, and Dia. Despite this, the extension is primarily designed for Chrome, which boasts a substantial user base.
Looking ahead, Speechify plans to integrate both voice typing and the voice assistant across all its desktop and mobile applications. The company is also exploring the development of agents capable of performing tasks on behalf of users, such as making appointments or handling customer support calls. This initiative aligns with efforts by other companies like Truecaller and Cloacked, who are pursuing similar objectives.
In summary, Speechify’s latest enhancements to its Chrome extension signify a notable step forward in voice recognition technology, offering users more interactive and efficient tools for navigating digital content.
