Voice Sessions — How Savo's Voice AI Works
The technology behind Savo's voice-first conversation experience
Signal Sessions are voice-first. Participants speak naturally with Savo, an AI interviewer, using their device's microphone and speakers — no headset required, no special software to install. The conversation happens in a browser, over a real-time audio connection.
The Audio Connection
Savo uses real-time bidirectional audio streaming for Signal Sessions. When a participant starts a session, the browser establishes a live audio connection. Audio streams in both directions: the participant speaks and Savo listens, then Savo responds using synthesized speech. The participant hears Savo's response through their device speakers.
Turn-taking
Savo listens for two things at once: whether the participant is speaking, and whether they have finished their thought. A pause on its own does not end a turn. Savo waits for evidence that the participant is done, which is what lets someone stop mid-sentence to think without being interrupted. It also handles overlap, including a participant speaking over Savo.
What Participants See and Hear
The conversation screen shows a visual wave animation that reflects Savo's state — speaking (active animation), listening (gentle idle), or processing (brief transitional state). This gives the participant a clear signal about whose turn it is.
A microphone indicator confirms that the participant's audio is being received. Real-time captions of Savo's speech are available and can be toggled on or off. Participant speech is not transcribed on-screen.
Common Audio Situations
Choosing and testing audio: Before the session starts, participants pick and test both their microphone and their speaker, and can switch either one during the call. The setup screen walks them through the browser's microphone permission if it has not been granted yet.
Microphone not working: If no microphone is detected after permission is granted, the participant is directed to text mode. If a microphone is connected but sending no audio, Savo catches that during the session and offers a fix while the session is still live, rather than letting the participant talk into a conversation that never responds.
Poor audio quality: If the system detects a poor audio signal, the participant receives a non-disruptive notification with suggestions — check the microphone position, reduce background noise, or try text mode.
Connection drops: If the internet connection drops during a session, the system attempts to reconnect automatically. Session state is preserved during a connection loss, so the conversation can resume without losing progress.
Browser Compatibility
Voice sessions work in any current browser that allows microphone access, on desktop or mobile. Participants do not need to install anything.