Speechify Adds Voice Typing and AI Assistant to Chrome
Speechify is shifting its focus beyond text-to-speech by integrating advanced voice detection capabilities into its Chrome extension. The update introduces a native dictation tool and a conversational voice assistant, signaling the company’s intent to compete in the growing market of speech-based AI utilities.
The new dictation feature supports English and automatically refines text by removing filler words and correcting transcription errors. While the tool performs reliably in environments like Google Docs and Gmail, current testing indicates that compatibility with platforms such as WordPress remains inconsistent. Speechify states that optimization for a broader range of websites is currently underway.
Prioritizing Voice Over Chat
Alongside dictation, Speechify has launched a browser-based sidebar assistant. Users can interact with the AI to summarize content or simplify complex information on a webpage. According to the company, the goal is to position voice as a primary interface rather than a secondary feature.
Rohan Pavuluri, Chief Business Officer at Speechify, explained that the company aims to differentiate itself from major competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini. “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,” Pavuluri noted.
He added that a significant segment of the market prefers voice as the default setting. Consequently, the company plans to roll out these features across its desktop and mobile applications in the coming months.
Performance and Future Roadmap
While the tool is in its early stages, current benchmarks suggest that its word error rate is higher than specialized competitors such as Wispr Flow, Willow, and Monologue. However, Speechify maintains that its underlying model is designed to improve accuracy over time through user interaction.
Looking ahead, the startup is exploring the development of autonomous agents capable of performing specific tasks. Proposed capabilities include:
- Automating phone calls for scheduling appointments.
- Managing hold times with customer support services.
Although the current version of the assistant does not integrate with browsers featuring built-in sidebars—such as OpenAI’s Atlas or Perplexity’s Comet—Speechify remains focused on optimizing its extension for the broader Chrome user base.