Teleperformance SE, the world's largest call center operator, is implementing AI to soften the accents of English-speaking Indian workers in real-time. The company claims this will enhance customer understanding and satisfaction.
The technology analyzes speech input and modifies it to match a specified accent while preserving the speaker's original voice and emotion. Palo Alto-based startup Sanas developed the accent technology after a $13 million Teleperformance investment earlier this year.
Teleperformance is deploying technology with background noise cancellation in Indian call centers, providing customer support for international clients. Its customers include major tech companies like Apple, TikTok, and Samsung Electronics. The company plans to invest up to €100 million ($104 million) in AI partnerships in 2025.
Sanas states that its goal is to reduce "accent-based discrimination." Currently, the software supports Indian and Filipino inflections. Sanas is developing versions for other regions, including Latin America.