New AI Assistant 'Magenta' Transforms Phone Calls with Voice-Activated Features

At the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, ElevenLabs cofounder Mati Staniszewski and Abdu Mudesir, executive board member for product and technology at Deutsche Telekom, introduced the Magenta AI Call Assistant. This innovative assistant can be activated during a phone call using the wake words "Hey Magenta." Once activated, it can perform tasks such as live language translation, checking calendar availability, and finding nearby locations using map services.

ElevenLabs, known for its realistic text-to-voice technology, has previously faced challenges with voice cloning. However, the Magenta service aims to provide a seamless experience without requiring users to download an app. According to Deutsche Telekom, the assistant listens only to specific queries and must be reactivated for subsequent questions during the call.

While language translation services are not new, existing options are often limited to specific devices. Magenta's appeal lies in its hardware- and software-agnostic nature, allowing it to integrate naturally into phone calls. Despite its potential, the introduction of AI assistants in non-encrypted calls raises privacy concerns, including data collection risks.

Avijit Ghosh, an AI policy researcher at Hugging Face, expressed skepticism about the user experience and privacy implications of using such an assistant during calls. He highlighted potential issues with accent bias in synthetic voices, noting that AI systems like those from ElevenLabs may struggle with regional accents. Ghosh advocates for purpose-built AI systems with appropriate safeguards.

Deutsche Telekom assures that the Magenta service is opt-in, requiring user consent before activation. The company emphasizes transparency, stating that both parties in a call must agree to use the service. Voice recordings are not saved, and the service complies with EU data protection laws. However, it remains unclear if the service will function across different network providers.

Initially, the Magenta service will launch in Germany, with plans to support translations in up to 50 languages within the next year. Deutsche Telekom has not disclosed any plans for expanding the service to other countries. The company envisions the assistant facilitating tasks like booking appointments or making reservations during conversations.

As the service rolls out, there is a humorous concern about the potential for accidental activation, similar to issues faced by Amazon's Alexa, especially if individuals or pets named Magenta inadvertently trigger the assistant.