Willow Brings Viral AI Voice Keyboard to the iPhone, Promises 3x Better Dictation

Willow, an AI dictation startup from Y Combinator’s Spring 2025 batch, has launched a voice keyboard on the iOS App Store. The application allows users to dictate text in various iOS apps, producing structured and contextually appropriate text. Since its inception in spring, the company reports a 50% month-over-month increase in usage, now reaching tens of thousands, including employees from companies such as Canva, GitHub, and Uber.

Willow functions as a standard iOS keyboard, enabling dictation across various applications, including Mail, Messages, and Slack. Key features include the ability to generate clear written content from speech, adapt writing style based on the context, improve accuracy compared to built-in dictation systems, and provide automatic formatting. Company co-founder Allan Guo noted that many existing dictation tools often require more editing than dictating.

Since launching a web app earlier this spring, Willow has experienced steady revenue growth and intends to enhance its features further, aiming for a seamless user experience. The technology has attracted $4.5 million in funding from investors, including Y Combinator and several angel investors.

The Willow voice keyboard can be downloaded from the App Store.

Why it matters:

• Willow’s application can potentially save businesses time in communication by streamlining the writing process.
• The emphasis on accuracy and contextual understanding could lead to better quality communication across teams.

The latest:

• The Willow voice keyboard is now officially available on the App Store.