Revolutionizing Human-AI Voice Interaction

AI is better with voice. Why? Voice interaction with large language models (LLMs) is faster, easier, and more intuitive than typing with a chatbot. It enhances accessibility and efficiency, enabling hands-free, real-time communication. From 24/7 customer support to mental health counseling, and any scenario where speed and convenience matter, voice-based AI unlocks new possibilities for LLMs.

Despite all the reasons to be excited about interacting with AI via voice, issues of latency, network instability, background noise interference, and lack of accuracy lead to frustrating user experiences. Until now.

We’re excited to introduce Agora’s Conversational AI Engine which enables low-latency voice interaction with any AI model. The Engine allows you to quickly deploy voice AI agents that process and respond to human speech naturally—even in noisy environments or under poor network conditions. The solution delivers fast responses, real-time interruption handling, background noise suppression, and crystal-clear audio processing for a lifelike voice AI experience.

Solving AI Voice Challenges

Despite the growing demand for AI voice applications, developers often encounter major roadblocks:

• Latency and delayed interruption response time disrupts conversation flow.
• Poor network conditions disrupt performance and reliability.
• Background noise interferes with AI speech recognition accuracy.
• Lack of flexibility for AI models and voices limit customization.
• Complex development and limited platform support delay time to market.    

Agora’s Conversational AI Engine solves these problems by leveraging advanced real-time processing, intelligent acoustic algorithms, and a global network infrastructure. The result? More natural voice AI interactions that work in any environment and on any device.

What is Agora’s Conversational AI Engine?

Agora’s Conversational AI Engine empowers developers to integrate highly responsive, intelligent AI voice interactions into their applications, solving major voice AI challenges with:

• Lightning-fast response times and real-time interruption handling enable smooth dialogue.
• Agora’s global network (SD-RTN™) optimizes performance in poor network conditions.
• Robust background noise suppression and echo cancelation improve AI comprehension.
• Choice of any AI model and any text-to-speech (TTS) service offers full flexibility.
• Rapid integration, with support for all major platforms and devices, reduces time-to-market

How it works

The Engine uses a “chained model” referring to the flow of the user’s voice being processed by speech-to-text technology, then that text being processed by the LLM, then the LLM’s response being processed by text-to-speech technology and ultimately outputting the AI agent’s voice response.

This model makes voice AI much more cost effective than expensive voice-to-voice processing while Agora’s network reduces latency and optimizes for higher quality of experience (QoE).  

Key Conversational AI Engine features

Any AI Model, Any Voice: Connect any AI model (LLM) and choose any text-to-speech (TTS) service and voice.

Ultra-Low Latency: Enable responses up to 3x faster than the standard delay of most AI voice assistants.

Intelligent Interruption Handling: Allows AI to detect and respond to user interruptions in real time, creating seamless, natural conversations.

Background Noise Suppression: Blocks background noise and echo, ensuring the AI accurately processes speech even in noisy environments.

Rapid Integration: Build AI voice agents in minutes with support for all major platforms and device types.

Selective Attention Locking: Enables AI to focus solely on the primary speaker, filtering out distractions from other speakers in the background.

Global Real-Time Network: Leverages intelligent routing to reduce packet loss and latency, ensuring stable voice AI interactions worldwide.

Use Cases: Unlocking AI Voice Potential

Agora’s Conversational AI Engine is designed for a wide range of applications, from customer service to gaming and beyond. Here are just a few ways you can use it:

• 24/7 Customer Support – Deploy AI-powered voice agents to handle common queries, troubleshoot issues, and assist customers in real time. ‍
• Virtual Shopping Assistants – Guide customers through purchases by answering questions and providing recommendations. ‍
• Live AI Hosts – Power interactive, AI-driven event hosts with real-time content moderation capabilities. ‍
• Mental Health Support – Provide conversational AI-based wellness tools that listen, respond, and connect users with professional resources. ‍
• Live Tutoring – Enable on-demand, AI-powered educational assistance for students. ‍
• AI-Powered NPCs in Gaming – Create lifelike, interactive AI characters for more immersive gaming experiences. ‍
• Employee Onboarding – Help new hires navigate onboarding with AI-guided assistance.

Integrating Conversational AI intro IoT devices

Another major use case is directly integrating voice AI agents into connected devices, from educational robots and character toys to any smart home device. Agora’s ConvoAI Device Kit makes this process possible by combining the Conversational AI Engine with an integrated hardware chipset and module built by Agora partner, Beken. The turnkey solution for adding voice AI to hardware can turn any connected device into intelligent, interactive companions capable of dynamic, real-time conversations.

Try it today

Agora’s Conversational AI Engine is now available, giving developers access to quickly build, test and deploy AI voice applications.

With seamless integration, you can bring intelligent AI voice interactions to life in just minutes. Whether you're developing a customer support assistant, an AI tutor, or a gaming NPC, Agora’s Conversational AI Engine delivers the speed, clarity, and flexibility you need.

Check out an example voice AI agent in our web demo here: Talk to Conversational AI

Ready to start building? Here’s the Quickstart Guide