Speak, a trailblazing English language learning app that has been making waves internationally with its cutting-edge AI Tutor, underpinned by OpenAI’s latest GPT-4 technology, has announced the successful conclusion of a Series B-2 funding round.

Speak secured a US$16-million investment, which marks a doubling of the company’s valuation in less than a year.

The AI Tutor, a centerpiece of Speak’s approach to language education, harnesses GPT-4’s power to provide learners with open-ended conversations and comprehensive feedback. Over the past two months, GPT-4 has been at the heart of this AI-driven learning journey, propelling Speak to the forefront of language learning innovation.

The CEO and founder of Speak, Connor Zwick, expressed excitement about this partnership, stating: “We’re thrilled to have had the privilege of early access to GPT-4 and to be among the first to implement it in our AI Tutor feature.”

GPT-4 has enabled Speak to develop highly personalised and contextually aware feedback mechanisms, setting the AI Tutor apart from its predecessors. The text generation accuracy and coherence offered by GPT-4 enable more natural interactions and enhanced learning outcomes. This collaboration has resulted in over 2 million lessons initiated by users, solidifying AI Tutor’s role as a cornerstone of Speak’s user experience.

The Series B-2 funding round, led by investor Lachy Groom, brings total funding to US$63 million and will accelerate the development of the superhuman AI Tutor. Additionally, it will facilitate Speak’s expansion into international markets and enable the company to attract top talent to support its expansion efforts.

Groom, speaking on the transformative potential of Speak’s AI-powered tutor, emphasised, “Education is undergoing a seismic shift with AI, and Speak’s approach has the potential to provide learners around the world with access to top-tier language education without the limitations of traditional tutoring.”

Founded in San Francisco, Speak’s initial focus on the South Korean market has yielded impressive results, with its app consistently ranked as the No.1 ‘education app’ in the Apple App Store. In 2023, the company embarked on an ambitious international expansion, extending its reach to over 20 countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Germany, France, Brazil, and Mexico.

Zwick emphasised the role of state-of-the-art natural language processing and speech technology in shaping Speak’s trajectory. The collaboration with the OpenAI Startup Fund has empowered Speak to redefine language learning, delivering an interactive tutor experience that surpasses conventional methodologies.

Looking forward, Zwick expressed much optimism: “Our refined learning model, initially developed in South Korea, has demonstrated its versatility across diverse global markets and cultures. We are on track to introduce our AI-powered tutor to major international markets by the end of the year, including our upcoming launch in the United States.”

The difference in language has been one of the barriers that have traditionally hindered trade with regional neighbours. Brazil, for example, has the largest African-descent population outside of the content (55 million people), is a member of BRICS, has an emerging economy, and is culturally very similar to Jamaica.

Jamaicans are among one of the few countries in the Caribbean that do not require a visa to go to Brazil. However, the issue for some is that Brazil’s first language is Portuguese and is not typically thought of as a choice destination for Jamaicans.