ElevenLabs CEO Predicts AI Audio Commoditization

ElevenLabs CEO Predicts AI Model Commoditization

Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and chief executive of AI audio company ElevenLabs, anticipates that AI models will become increasingly standardized over time. This perspective is particularly noteworthy coming from a company currently dedicated to their development.

Discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference on Tuesday, Staniszewski outlined his views on the current and future landscape of the AI audio sector.

He indicated that ElevenLabs’ research teams have successfully addressed certain challenges related to model architecture. The company intends to maintain this focus within the audio domain for the next one to two years.

Long-Term Commoditization

“Over the long term, commoditization will occur – within the next couple of years,” Staniszewski stated. “While variations will likely persist, particularly concerning specific voices and languages, these distinctions will diminish over time.”

Strategic Model Development

When questioned about ElevenLabs’ continued investment in model building given his prediction of commoditization, Staniszewski clarified that, in the immediate future, these models represent a significant competitive advantage.

He emphasized that poor AI voice or interaction quality remains a critical issue requiring resolution.

“The solution lies in developing these models internally, with the understanding that other companies will eventually offer comparable solutions,” Staniszewski explained.

Diverse Use Cases and Model Selection

He also suggested that users seeking dependable and scalable solutions will likely continue to utilize different AI models tailored to specific applications.

The Rise of Multi-Modal Models

Staniszewski forecasts that, within the next year or two, a growing number of AI models will adopt multi-modal or fused approaches.

“This will enable simultaneous creation of audio and video, or integration of audio and LLMs in conversational contexts,” he said, citing Google’s Veo 3 as an example of successful model combination.

Partnerships and Open Source Collaboration

ElevenLabs intends to establish partnerships with other organizations and explore open-source technologies. The aim is to integrate their audio expertise with the capabilities of other AI models.

Focus on Value Creation

For ElevenLabs, the strategy centers on both model development and application creation to ensure sustained value.

“Similar to how the synergy of software and hardware propelled Apple’s success, we believe the combination of product and AI will be key to generating the most impactful use cases,” Staniszewski concluded.