Anthropic is stepping into the voice AI space with the official rollout of Claude voice mode, a new feature now available in beta on its mobile app. The feature enables users to hold full, natural conversations with Claude by speaking aloud—no typing needed.
According to an update from Anthropic’s X account and fresh documentation on its website, the English-language voice mode is rolling out gradually over the next few weeks. Early adopters have already gained access, with one user reporting late Tuesday that they could interact with Claude via voice.
By default, voice mode uses Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 model. A support page explains that it’s designed to make hands-free interaction with Claude more intuitive and productive. While speaking, users see key points displayed on-screen, and Claude responds out loud, offering a seamless voice-driven experience.
How Claude’s Voice Mode Works
Anthropic joins a growing list of AI players enhancing chatbot usability through voice. OpenAI’s ChatGPT supports spoken input and replies, Google’s Gemini Live offers real-time audio responses, and xAI’s Grok also includes a voice interface.
But Claude voice mode brings its own flair. Users can discuss documents or images and choose from five distinct voice options. There’s also flexibility—users can switch between text and voice in the middle of a conversation, and once the chat ends, they receive both a transcript and a summary of the discussion.
The feature does come with a few caveats. Voice interactions count toward regular usage caps. For free users, this typically means around 20 to 30 conversations before hitting limits. To unlock more advanced features, including the Google Workspace connector, users need a paid Claude subscription. That upgrade allows voice mode to access Google Calendar and Gmail. Integration with Google Docs, however, remains exclusive to Claude Enterprise accounts.
Strategic Voice AI Partnerships in Play
Back in March, Anthropic’s Chief Product Officer, Mike Krieger, told the Financial Times that the team was actively building voice capabilities. At the time, the company was reportedly in talks with Amazon—its strategic investor—and ElevenLabs, a voice-focused AI startup known for high-quality speech synthesis.
It’s unclear if either partnership directly influenced the current Claude voice mode launch. However, the polished experience suggests Anthropic is taking its voice ambitions seriously, aiming to stay competitive in a crowded market of voice-enabled AI assistants.
