Voice tech is another application of Natural Language Processing and voice seems to be getting adopted quicker than any other major technology. Led by Amazon's Alexa, smart speakers' install base is expected to reach 200 million units worldwide by 2020. I have compiled a list of voice tech startups which are innovative in nature and are already in the market. This list is a starting point and probably far from exhaustive and is not sorted in any order. I will come up with another post with more startups added, in future. SoundHound develops voice-enabled AI and conversational intelligence technologies.

Apple has acquired PullString, the startup behind the voice technology powering the interactive "Hello Barbie" doll Mattel released in 2015. PullString, previously known as ToyTalk, was founded back in 2011 by former Pixar employees. Its AI platform gave its partner companies and clients a way to create digital and physical characters and voice apps that can communicate with people. Hello Barbie was one of those -- an interactive Thomas The Tank Engine toy was another. The company previously launched software that makes it easy even for non-technical pros to create Alexa apps of their own, as well.