Sesame, an AI startup founded by the guy that launched and sold Oculus, has released a startling voice demo of their new “conversational partner.”

The company states their goal is to ‘achieve “voice presence’—the magical quality that makes spoken interactions feel real, understood, and valued. We are creating conversational partners that do not just process requests; they engage in genuine dialogue that builds confidence and trust over time. In doing so, we hope to realize the untapped potential of voice as the ultimate interface for instruction and understanding.”

You can try it yourself. Talk with “Maya” or “Miles” here.

[Huw Prosser / The Verge]