Granola pivots to dictation as voice AI startups converge

Granola’s new tool allows users to trigger dictation via the Fn key, with the software automatically cleaning and formatting spoken input for use in emails, messages, or notes across any application. While currently limited to macOS, the company plans to extend the functionality to Windows and iOS. This move places Granola in direct competition with Wispr, a company valued at $2 billion that recently expanded from dictation into the meeting note-taking space.

This convergence marks a departure from the previous industry standard, which favored hyper-specialized applications that performed a single task with high precision. Startups including Fireflies, Speechify, and Monologue are following a similar path, evolving into multi-feature platforms. While Granola maintains its focus on meeting automation, Wispr distinguishes itself by developing proprietary models through an internal research lab aimed at redefining human-computer interfaces. As these valuations climb—Granola reaching $1.5 billion—the race is no longer about doing one thing well, but about becoming the primary layer for all user-generated speech.