Cisco has made a significant strategic move in the AI translation sector by acquiring EzDubs, a startup supported by Y Combinator known for its real-time translation technology. This acquisition, announced over the weekend with undisclosed financial details, indicates Cisco’s commitment to enhancing its Webex collaboration platform as it aims to compete against industry giants offering AI-driven communication features. Unfortunately for consumers, EzDubs will be discontinuing its consumer apps by December 15, 2023.
The acquisition is particularly notable given the background of EzDubs’ co-founder, Kareem Nassar, who previously worked in Cisco’s Speech AI group. This familiarity with Cisco’s infrastructure likely facilitated a smoother integration process from the outset. Together with co-founders Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy and Amrutavarsh Kinagi, Nassar launched EzDubs in 2023, focusing on technology that preserves the original voices of speakers during translation.
EzDubs has successfully raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Venture Highway, an investment firm established by former WhatsApp chief business officer Neeraj Arora. The startup’s investor roster includes notable figures in technology, such as Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, Qasar Younis, CEO of Applied Intuition, and Ben Firshman, CEO of Replicate—whose company was recently acquired by Cloudflare.
With this acquisition, Cisco’s collaboration suite is poised for transformation. The integration of EzDubs’ technology will enhance Cisco’s offerings across both hardware and software products, enabling live translation features for Webex’s video calling and messaging capabilities. Furthermore, Cisco has indicated that this technology may also be available to partners and developers through APIs, enriching the overall user experience.
“The EzDubs team will join Cisco Collaboration, working side-by-side with our product, engineering, and go-to-market teams,” stated Snorre Kjesbu, SVP of Collaboration at Cisco. “Together, we will chart a new course for the industry, one where AI doesn’t just support collaboration but truly empowers it.”
While this acquisition opens new avenues for Cisco, it does come with a trade-off. EzDubs will cease its consumer-facing translation services, which had supported over 30 languages until the December 15 deadline. The startup had gained traction with features like a video dubbing tool and real-time phone call translation, both designed to maintain voice and emotional nuances during conversations.
This move underscores Cisco’s significant investment in AI-powered communication, positioning itself to stay competitive in a landscape where enterprise communication platforms are rapidly incorporating advanced AI functionalities. As the demand for seamless global communication continues to rise, Cisco’s acquisition reflects a proactive approach to meet these needs through innovative technology.
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