Sesame, the Conversational AI Startup from Oculus Founders, Raises $250M and Launches Beta
Sesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, raises $250M and launches beta—marking a major leap in the next generation of human-AI interaction. The company, founded by Brendan Iribe and Ankit Kumar, is blending smart eyewear with lifelike AI voices to create what it calls “a personal AI companion for daily life.”
Image Credits:Sesame
A New Era for Conversational AI
Backed by a massive $250 million Series B funding round, Sesame is now opening its beta to select testers. The investment round was led by Sequoia Capital, highlighting the industry’s growing confidence in conversational AI technologies that sound—and feel—more human.
The company’s founders, Iribe (former Oculus CEO) and Kumar (former Ubiquity6 CTO), envision an AI that goes beyond screens and keyboards. Their goal is to design a lightweight pair of smart glasses that can stay with you all day, responding naturally to voice commands and environmental cues.
Sesame’s Breakthrough: From Demo to Real-World Use
When Sesame first surfaced in February, it revealed two AI voices named “Maya” and “Miles.” Within weeks, over a million users had tried them—generating more than 5 million minutes of dialogue. These early interactions gave the team crucial insights into how users connect emotionally with AI voices.
According to Sequoia’s blog post announcing its investment, “Sesame’s conversational layer felt different. It doesn’t just translate LLM output into audio—it generates speech directly, capturing rhythm, emotion, and expressiveness.”
Why Sesame Stands Out
Early testers and tech reviewers are calling Sesame’s demos “natural-sounding” and even “genuinely fun.” The Verge noted that its lifelike delivery makes conversations feel more spontaneous and human.
This isn’t just about a smoother voice experience—it’s about reimagining how people interact with AI entirely. By embedding the technology into stylish, lightweight eyewear, Sesame aims to make AI companionship as seamless as wearing glasses.
What’s Next for Sesame
The upcoming Sesame glasses will feature immersive, high-quality audio and an AI agent that “observes the world alongside you.” That means your AI companion could provide real-time information, context, and reminders based on what you see and say—an ambitious step toward ambient, context-aware computing.
The startup’s beta launch will serve as a key testing phase before a wider rollout, giving early users the chance to shape the evolution of everyday AI interactions.
Industry Impact and Future Potential
Sesame’s success could redefine how AI fits into daily life. With $250M in fresh funding, the company is well-positioned to lead the race toward wearable AI assistants that feel natural, responsive, and genuinely helpful.
As conversational AI continues to evolve, Sesame’s human-first design approach may set a new standard—merging the power of large language models with emotional nuance and real-time awareness.
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