Voice Feedback Apps Could Change How Customers Speak Their Minds

Voice-focused software is having a moment, with tools like Wispr and Granola making dictation feel routine. One writer admits they now draft notes by hand and then read them aloud to a laptop.

Some predict keyboards are on the way out for office workers, though that claim is disputed. Still, voice could reshape how customers share feedback.

Karan Gupta, CEO of Voicebox, says the last two years brought a tipping point: voice became accurate and fast. His previous startup, Alice, focused on secure transcription.

With Voicebox, shoppers scan a QR code or tap an NFC chip and simply speak. Feedback is transcribed, analyzed for sentiment, and sent to a company dashboard. Voicebox has worked with airport terminals so travelers can comment on bathrooms or gate directions.

Earlier this year, Lena Dunham held a San Francisco event for her book Famesick and displayed a Voicebox QR code. Attendees left emotional messages about her medical journey.

Voicebox recently launched a directory, letting feedback arrive from anywhere and, in future versions, letting users see public comments about a business. That pushes it toward crowd-sourced reviews, like spoken Google Maps.

After speaking with Gupta, the writer searched the directory for Voicebox itself - but waited for nearby airport strangers to leave before whispering.