Facilitating Effortless Communication with New AI Features for Verkada Intercom

Since the launch of Verkada intercom three years ago, organizations have been able to secure their entryways with our suite of powerful intercoms, which provide visibility, control, and peace of mind. We’ve built features like keypad directory and Visit Key to enable self-service entry for trusted visitors and reduce the burden on front desk staff. 

However, there will always be moments when a visitor needs help. Today, we are taking a massive leap forward with two new AI features designed to help make communication at the door effortless: live translation and AI-powered voice directory.

Live Translation

In diverse environments like airports, hospitals, and schools, language gaps can create delays and frustration. Live translation solves this by delivering real-time, two-way translation between visitors at the intercom and receivers answering the call. For now, it will be available across ten different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Hindi, and Russian. Key live translation features include:

• Intelligent activation: Once enabled, the system automatically detects a "language mismatch." If a caller begins speaking Spanish but the receiver’s set preferred language is English, the system instantly identifies the discrepancy and prompts the receiver to toggle on the live translation feature.

• Translated audio and captions: To help ensure clarity, the feature provides both translated voice output and captions. The receiver sees the text in real time and simultaneously hears a natural, human-sounding voice translation.

• Context awareness: By utilizing audio ducking technology, which lowers the volume of the original speaker while playing the translated voice, the receiver can hear the translation without losing the context of the caller’s original tone and emotion.

Live translation calls will be logged on the Global Events page with an icon to indicate that live translation was used. In addition to call transcripts in each speaker’s original language, admins can access three audio tracks for every historical call: the original (untranslated) audio captured by the intercom, the original (untranslated) audio captured by the receiver, and the receiver’s translated audio.

Live translation will be supported on all intercoms paired with Desk Station, Command on web, Command mobile app (iOS), and Pass app (iOS), with support for additional receiver types coming soon. 

AI-Powered Voice Directory

In multi-tenant settings, visitors may not have the exact extension, name, or even the precise department they need. Additionally, a receptionist may be busy with other tasks and not physically present at the front desk to answer calls, which can cause confusion for visitors at the door. We are solving this with AI-powered voice directory, available on the TD63 intercom, which helps direct calls to the correct entity without a receptionist having to step in.

With this feature, visitors simply speak their intent to the intercom. They can say, "I'm here for a delivery" or "I need the accounting department." The AI analyzes the request and directly routes the call to the correct department or user configured within Command. This facilitates scalable, intuitive visitor experiences without requiring a receptionist to mediate every interaction or forcing guests to look through a complex directory.

AI-powered voice directory delivers a conversational experience with low latency, making interactions feel immediate and natural. The system is also designed to handle ambiguity. For instance, if a visitor asks for "Mark" and multiple tenants share that name, the visitor will be prompted to clarify their request, such as asking for a last name, to help ensure the correct person is contacted. It can even evaluate the context of a request, such as directing a “beverage delivery” to the cafeteria. 

Additionally, this feature can dramatically increase accessibility through automatic language detection in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Hindi, and Russian. The AI listens to the visitor’s speech and responds in the same language, removing communication barriers the moment a guest arrives. 

These advancements redefine how intercoms deliver a smooth, welcoming entry experience. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Verkada intercoms can remove language barriers and guide visitors quickly and intuitively to their destination.

Availability

These features will be available in beta on February 19, 2026. To get a personalized demo or free trial, contact your Verkada sales representative or email [email protected].