[Glossary](https://telxpress.com/glossary/) / Voice # Speech-to-text **Speech-to-text** (STT) is the technology that converts spoken words into written text in real time; it is the first stage of an AI voice agent and the basis of call transcripts, captions and meeting notes. - Voice - Updated October 11, 2026 - Written by the Telxpress advisory team 01 In depth ## What it is, why it matters and *what to ask a vendor* Speech-to-text, also called automatic speech recognition, listens to audio and produces text. In a voice agent that text goes to a language model (often with natural language understanding, which extracts the caller's intent and details such as dates and names), and the reply is turned back into speech by text-to-speech (TTS). The quality of each stage decides how natural the call feels. For a growing business the stakes are accuracy on your vocabulary: product names, street names in your service area, accents and noisy environments such as a shop floor or a car. Poor recognition produces wrong bookings and frustrated callers; good recognition also gives you searchable transcripts and meeting notes your team actually uses. Ask a vendor to test recognition on your own terms and callers, whether custom vocabulary can be added, how it handles Spanish or other languages your customers speak, what the delay is between the caller finishing and the agent replying, and which voices are available for text-to-speech. Hear the result on a real phone line, not a laptop speaker. 02 Related terms ## Terms that usually come up *alongside it* - Voice ### [AI voice agent](https://telxpress.com/glossary/ai-voice-agent/) An AI voice agent is software that answers phone calls in natural conversation, understands what the caller wants, answers questions, books appointments and transfers or takes messages when a person is needed. - AI ### [Large language model](https://telxpress.com/glossary/large-language-model/) A large language model (LLM) is an AI system trained on vast amounts of text that can follow instructions and generate fluent language; it powers chat assistants and the conversation in AI voice agents. - Audio visual ### [Video conferencing room](https://telxpress.com/glossary/video-conferencing-room/) A video conferencing room is a meeting space with a display, camera, microphones and a room system such as Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms, so meetings start with one touch and remote participants hear everyone. - Network ### [Latency](https://telxpress.com/glossary/latency/) Latency is the time a packet takes to travel from one end of a connection to the other; on a phone or video call, high latency makes people talk over each other and pause awkwardly. 03 At Telxpress ## Where this shows up *at Telxpress* The pages and articles where this term does real work: what we advise, build and support. - Page ### [Donya AI Voice Agent: Never Miss a Call](https://telxpress.com/solutions/ai/voice-agent/) Donya answers every call 24/7, qualifies leads and books appointments. Call the demo line to hear it. Built and run by Telxpress. - Page ### [Conference Room AV & Digital Signage](https://telxpress.com/solutions/business-technology/audio-visual/) Conference rooms, displays, video conferencing, digital signage and sound systems designed for AI-enabled meetings and installed by our Irvine team. - Page ### [AI Agents & Business Automation](https://telxpress.com/solutions/ai/) AI voice, sales and support agents plus CRM and workflow automation, deployed and supported by our team. Based in Irvine, CA. Next step ## Want This Applied *to Your Business?* Book a free 30-minute AI readiness consultation. You'll leave with three AI opportunities specific to your business, whether you work with us or not. [Book My Free Consultation](https://telxpress.com/book/) [Take the Free AI Readiness Assessment](https://telxpress.com/ai-readiness/) [Or call 24/7: (949) 861-4500](tel:+19498614500) Last reviewed: October 11, 2026. Published by Telxpress, Irvine, CA.