Voice AI News: May 3–10, 2026
Voice AI highlights May 3-10: OpenAI introduces GPT-Realtime models for API, while ElevenLabs reaches $500M ARR and enters Australia and New Zealand markets.
OpenAI Launches Advanced Realtime Voice Models In Api
OpenAI released three new audio models on May 7 including GPT-Realtime-2 for natural conversational reasoning, GPT-Realtime-Translate for live multilingual support, and GPT-Realtime-Whisper for streaming transcription. The updates make real-time voice agents more capable of handling complex tasks and interruptions during conversations.
Elevenlabs Crosses 500 Million Arr Milestone With New Investors
The company announced on May 5 that it surpassed $500 million in annual recurring revenue just four months into 2026 after ending 2025 at $350 million. Prominent new backers including BlackRock, NVIDIA, Jamie Foxx, and Eva Longoria underscore strong enterprise and creative demand for its voice AI platform.
Elevenlabs Expands Operations To Australia And New Zealand
On May 7 the voice AI leader detailed new regional presence to support growing customer adoption in the Asia-Pacific market. The move follows rapid global scaling and positions the company closer to enterprise and creator users Down Under.