Karnataka Partners With ElevenLabs to Integrate Voice AI

The Government of Karnataka, acting through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, signed a memorandum of understanding with ElevenLabs Inc. on October 6, 2026. The partnership aims to integrate voice artificial intelligence into public services to improve accessibility and security.

The agreement focuses on three main goals: creating a technology-agnostic safety framework to fight voice fraud and deepfakes, developing voice-based government interfaces in multiple languages including Kannada, and restoring speech to citizens affected by cancer or neurological diseases. Under the One Million Voices program, ElevenLabs will provide free lifetime licenses to eligible citizens, with the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing in Mysuru assisting in identifying beneficiaries.

Minister Priyank Kharge stated that voice AI can make government more citizen-centric, though he noted that it brings responsibilities regarding safety and the prevention of misuse. ElevenLabs CEO Matiusz Staniszewski described voice as the most natural medium for human-technology interaction. The agreement is voluntary and non-legally binding, establishing a framework for future pilot projects and knowledge sharing.