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.
