Cisco has announced the acquisition of AI translation startup EzDubs – further strengthening its position in the AI communication race.
Founded in 2023 by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, Amrutavarsh Kinagi and Kareem Nassar, EzDubs builds technology that can translate speech while keeping the speaker’s original voice and emotional tone.
This feature helped the startup stand out in the crowded translation market.
Nassar previously worked in Cisco’s Speech AI group, so his return to the company adds an interesting full-circle moment.
“We’re entering an era where seamless, human-centric collaboration is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity,” said Snorre Kjesbu, Cisco’s SVP of Collaboration.
“EzDubs’s technology fills a critical gap in the market, answering the call for truly global, accessible, AI-powered communication.
“This acquisition is Cisco’s “all-in” moment for AI in collaboration: it accelerates our vision, strengthens our Collaboration portfolio, and sets a new standard for what’s possible.”
EzDubs’ apps supported more than 30 languages and became popular after a video-dubbing tool went viral.
In their farewell announcement, the founders thanked users for shaping the product.
They said the journey had been defined by community feedback and real stories from users around the world.
“From launching the world’s first video dubbing tool that garnered millions of views on X (previously Twitter) to enabling real-time, voice and emotion preserving phone call translation across 30+ languages, this journey has been extraordinary,” the company said.
“But what has truly meant the most is the support, feedback, and stories you’ve shared along the way.
Integration Plans
Cisco says EzDubs’ translation technology will be added to Cisco Collaboration.
This platform includes Webex, messaging tools and dedicated collaboration hardware.
Because of this integration, users will soon see built-in translation inside calls, chats and live meetings.
Cisco may also open this technology to partners and developers. If it does, it could grow the platform’s AI ecosystem.
EzDubs will shut down its consumer apps on 15 December. The apps became popular earlier this year thanks to a viral video-dubbing tool. In a farewell message, the founders thanked users and described how meaningful the journey had been.
Market Pressure
The acquisition is part of a wider shift.
Translation technology companies are being bought at a fast pace.
Earlier this month, Palabra AI acquired Talo. In July, TransPerfect bought Unbabel, a well-known translation startup based in Portugal.
This rising consolidation creates a key question. Is there a long-term future for consumer-focused translation apps?
Many struggle with paid conversions, while enterprise platforms have clear and immediate uses.
Global sales calls, customer support and cross-team communication are examples of where demand is growing.
The translation market is worth around $40 billion, and a result, major companies want integrated AI tools rather than disconnected services.
This explains why enterprise-focused translation tools are thriving.
Impact For IT Leaders
For IT leaders, the Cisco EzDubs acquisition signals a shift in collaboration standards.
Real-time translation will soon become a normal part of workplace communication. Because more teams work across borders, companies need tools that remove language barriers.
This shift raises several important points for CIOs and CTOs:
– Data security and voice-privacy controls will matter more.
– Voice models must be assessed for compliance and governance.
– Vendor lock-in risks may grow as translation features become native to platforms.
– Budgets may need adjusting as AI capabilities move into core enterprise tools.
– Accessibility could improve, helping global teams collaborate with fewer barriers.
For businesses already using Cisco, this acquisition could streamline multilingual communication and reduce friction in international operations.
Overall, it shows the direction the industry is heading – the next wave of enterprise AI will focus not only on automation but also on breaking down communication barriers.
