Simon Willison used GPT-6 Astra to build a browser-based interface for Google's new Gemini 3.8 Live speech models, which work similarly to OpenAI's GPT-Live. The tool lets you pick a model and voice, add a system prompt, and have real-time voice conversations with interrupt capability.

• Google released Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking, speech-to-speech models that parallel OpenAI's GPT-Live family
• The web UI uses only native Web APIs — no external libraries — connecting directly to Google's WebSocket endpoint with Web Audio API for mic and speaker handling
• The implementation demonstrates practical use of Google's Gemini Live WebSocket API for building interactive voice applications

Fish Audio’s open-source voice-generation models now serve over 8 million users and deliver $21 million in ARR. The startup secured $52 million in seed funding to expand its expressive, steerable voice APIs for both creators and enterprises, while streamlining takedowns after consent disputes. It plans to launch new audio-understanding and speech-to-speech models later this year.

• Fish Audio raised $52M in seed funding while already generating $21M ARR from 8 million users—unusually mature metrics for a seed-stage company.
• The startup automated voice takedowns (under 3 minutes via sample or contract) after facing unauthorized upload disputes, betting that consent and fair licensing build trust with creators.
• Its open-source Fish Speech release hit 31,000+ GitHub stars, but the newest S2.1 Pro model is locked behind a paid API, marking a shift from open-source to monetized enterprise offerings.
• It plans to expand into audio-understanding and speech-to-speech models to compete with ElevenLabs, WellSaid, and Speechify on fine-grained control and cheaper training costs.