A new AI voice model from Sesame is both fascinating and slightly creepy, making us wonder just how comfortable we are in a world where technology blurs the lines of reality. We’re inching closer to a sci-fi nightmare where we can develop emotional attachments to our voice assistants, something that just a decade ago felt purely fictional.

In late February, Sesame dropped its new Conversational Speech Model (CSM), sparking some truly mixed reactions. Users have reported feeling oddly connected to this voice AI, with many claiming that it feels more human than some of their actual relationships. One user exclaimed, “I tried the demo, and it was genuinely startling how human it felt. I’m a bit worried about getting emotionally attached!” Let’s hope the only real connection we get from these things is pulling up our Spotify playlists, am I right?

This latest model uses dynamic speech patterns, mimicking everything from breath sounds to the awkward pauses of a socially awkward friend trying to navigate a conversation about pineapple on pizza. Yes, it attempts to sound human by even stuttering over its words, because nothing says “I’m just like you” like sounding like you’re nervous at a job interview.

Sesame has decided to embrace little quirks of speech, because why not? Apparently, it’s all about achieving that elusive “voice presence”. Their goal? Creating an AI that doesn’t just respond to commands but engages in dialogue that builds confidence (and perhaps anxiety) over time. They want us to see it as a conversational partner, but let’s be honest: no one needs an AI giving them life advice they can’t take seriously.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, or in this case, a lot of ethical concerns. Experts are flagging this tech as a potential goldmine for scammers looking to trick you into believing you’re on the line with a trusted source, all while stealing your identity and life savings. But hey, at least you might get to talk about your feelings while you’re being robbed.

Despite the risks, Sesame is committed to continuing its research and plans to open-source parts of their project. Let’s just hope this doesn’t spiral into an internet wild west where every conversation comes with a side of existential dread.

So, try the demo at your own risk, if you haven’t hit emotional rock bottom yet, this might just do it for you.