Ai voice clones: your digital double answering calls?
Imagine delegating your phone calls to an ai. Sounds like science fiction? Not anymore. REALLY, a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), is betting that consumers are ready to hand over the reins of their phone interactions to an artificial intelligence, with its new “REALLY Clone” service.
The rise of agentic ai in mobile
Founded by Adam Lyons, REALLY isn't just offering a cheaper mobile plan (starting at $50 per month on the T-Mobile network); it's proposing a radical shift in how we use our smartphones. The core concept? An ai agent, trained on your voice and communication style, will handle calls on your behalf, freeing up your time for, as Lyons puts it, “the important things in life such as family and friends and nature.”
The service, currently in Beta, aims to tackle the most tedious aspects of phone ownership – spam calls, customer service interactions, appointment rescheduling. The idea isn't to replace all human contact, but to offload the repetitive and draining tasks. Think of it as a digital assistant, but one that can actually talk for you.
The training process is surprisingly straightforward: a few minutes of recorded conversation are enough for the AI to learn your speech patterns. The REALLY Clone then uses your real phone number, simplifying setup. The company prioritizes privacy, building the security layer before the AI functionality, a move that could prove crucial in gaining consumer trust.
But the most intriguing aspect might be its approach to spam. Instead of blocking unwanted calls, REALLY Clone engages with spammers, deliberately wasting their time and meticulously tracking how long it keeps them on the line. The company even provides a “running scoreboard” of wasted scammer time – a darkly humorous feature that speaks to the frustration many feel with persistent robocalls.
Lyons acknowledges that AI doesn't have to be perceived as a threat. He envisions a future where the technology handles the mundane, allowing users to focus on what truly matters. The goal, he says, is for the AI to become increasingly sophisticated, learning to adapt its communication style based on the recipient – whether it's your boss, your family, or your friends.
The company is ambitious, aiming for one million subscribers by the end of next year. Whether consumers will embrace the idea of an AI voice clone remains to be seen, but REALLY is certainly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the mobile space.
A long way to go, but a bold start
While the current capabilities are basic, the potential is undeniable. The ability to automate routine calls and combat spam is a compelling proposition. However, the success of REALLY Clone will hinge on its ability to convincingly mimic human conversation and, crucially, to maintain user privacy and control. The journey to a truly seamless digital double has just begun, and REALLY is leading the charge.