Quansight Acquires Cobalt Speech and Language, Expanding AI Capabilities in Voice and Language Technologies

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quansight, a leading innovator in AI/ML solutions and open-source technologies, today announced its acquisition of Cobalt Speech and Language, a premier provider of custom speech and language technology founded by voice recognition pioneer Jeff Adams. This strategic acquisition enhances Quansight’s ability to deliver cutting-edge, production-grade AI systems, especially in voice-based applications for enterprise and embedded systems.

Founded in 2014, Cobalt has earned a reputation for its deep expertise in automatic speech recognition (ASR), natural language understanding (NLU), and custom voice solutions across dozens of languages. Cobalt’s clients span defense, healthcare, call centers, and industrial automation, benefiting from its high-accuracy, privacy-conscious deployments.

“Joining forces with Quansight marks an exciting new chapter for Cobalt,” said Jeff Adams, CEO of Cobalt Speech and Language. “We’ve always focused on delivering highly customized speech and language tools that work in the real world, not just in the lab. With Quansight’s complementary strengths in AI platforms, open-source infrastructure, and data science, we’re well positioned to accelerate innovation and deliver even more impactful voice-enabled solutions.”

“Cobalt brings a remarkable team and deep technical expertise to Quansight,” said Travis Oliphant, CEO of Quansight. “Jeff Adams and his team have built some of the most robust speech systems in the industry. Their work aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering trustworthy, open, and adaptable AI solutions. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Quansight family.”

The acquisition supports Quansight’s broader strategy of delivering custom AI stacks that organizations can fully own and control, freeing them from vendor lock-in and enabling long-term flexibility and innovation.

Cobalt will continue to operate as a distinct team within Quansight, with Jeff Adams continuing to lead speech and language efforts as a strategic advisor.

About Quansight
Founded by Travis Oliphant, the creator of NumPy and SciPy, Quansight builds AI/ML platforms and custom data solutions rooted in open-source technologies. Quansight’s clients span Fortune 500 companies, governments, and startups seeking to harness AI responsibly and sustainably.

About Cobalt Speech and Language
Cobalt provides high-accuracy, low-latency speech and language technology tailored to enterprise, industrial, and mission-critical applications. The company was founded by Jeff Adams, formerly head of Amazon’s original Alexa speech team and a veteran of the speech recognition industry.