Modulate is a frontier AI voice company pioneering new AI architecture, Ensemble Listening Models (ELM), a new approach to AI that monumentally outperforms foundation model LLMs on accuracy and cost.
Mike Pappas, Co-Founder & CEO, shares the details on Modulate and their culture.
What is Modulate and ToxMod?
Modulate is a frontier AI voice company that utilizes a unique AI architecture called Ensemble Listening Models (ELM). This architecture is designed to outperform traditional foundation large language models (LLMs) in both accuracy and cost efficiency.
Their flagship product, ToxMod, provides live voice moderation for online video games. It actively listens to voice chats to identify hate speech, harassment, and severe safety violations. ToxMod solves two primary industry issues:
- Proactive Detection: Identifying toxic behavior instantly without relying on player reports.
- Smart Triage: Prioritizing egregious offenses (such as child grooming, hate campaigns, or extreme threats) so human moderators can review critical issues first, rather than wasting time on minor offenses like general profanity.
How Does Voice Moderation Impact the Gaming Industry?
Modulate achieved its first major AAA breakthrough by partnering with Activision’s Call of Duty team. In published case studies following the integration of ToxMod, the data revealed a 30% uplift in user retention once live toxicity detection was active in the game. The technology helps sustain a healthy gaming community by filtering out targeted harassment and discrimination while still allowing for traditional, friendly “trash talk”.
What is Velma by Modulate?
Velma is Modulate’s latest product, which originally functioned as the underlying “magic orchestration layer” inside ToxMod to handle automated triage.
After clients requested help with secondary issues like fraud detection, Modulate realized Velma’s core framework could be uncoupled from gaming voice moderation. Velma is now a general-purpose conversation insights tool capable of understanding nuance, hidden meanings, and emotion across various industries outside of gaming.
What is the Company Culture at Modulate?
Led by Co-Founder and CEO Mike Pappas, Modulate’s culture focuses heavily on three core values: transparency, candor, and feedback. The company intentionally avoids corporate politics and communication silos often found in larger tech firms. Employees at any level are actively encouraged to speak up, raise their hands if they see something that can be improved, and contribute directly to better company-wide decision-making.