Univerbal

Univerbal (previously Quazel) offers a language-learning app incorporating chatbot AI that simulates the experience of conversation in the language of the user's choice. The app features a selection of over twenty languages, including the following:

• German
• French
• Greek
• Italian
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Brazilian Portuguese
• Dutch
• Swedish
• Bulgarian
• Czech
• Danish
• Finnish
• Hungarian
• Indonesian
• Japanese
• Polish
• Romanian
• Russian
• Slovak
• Turkish
• Chinese

Quazel Beta Demo

Each conversation introduces the learner to a conversation partner in a unique scenario, with a description of the scenario appearing at the top of the dialog box. The conversation is initiated by the AI with a question, and learners respond by clicking the microphone button to speak. The learner’s response appears in a dialog box where they can check or modify the text before submitting the response. The AI conversation partner will come up with a response and continue the conversation. Learners are given tasks to complete in the conversation. The learner chooses when to stop the conversation, but it has a maximum duration of about ten minutes.

Quazel has a "conversation credit" (CC) system based on tokens that can be redeemed to hold conversations on Quazel. Users start with ten free credits and receive three more every day. The daily three credits expire after twenty-four hours. Additional credits may be purchased in the app.

Every response generated by Quazel costs 0.04 CCs. For a beginner- to intermediate-level language learner, this translates to the cost of about 1 CC per ten minutes of conversation. CCs are also consumed when users create their own scene. An image is generated to give the user a visual representation of their conversation partner and the environment. For every image generated, 0.02 CCs are used. This charge only applies to newly created scenes and not when selecting scenes created by other users.

The app offers a selection of customizable topics and lets users create their own unique conversations by choosing their own topic and conversation partner using the app's scene builder feature. Users are also presented with the option of selecting predefined scenes focusing on various areas of vocabulary useful to learners (such as getting to know someone, public transportation, and more). Additionally, users can analyze the grammar of their responses or avail of hints to receive aid in the event that they are unable to progress.

Quazel describes its app as a conversational language learning tool that helps people learn a language by talking. The conversation is unscripted; users can say whatever they like into a microphone, and the AI aims to respond in a practicable way in line with the real customs of a particular language. Users are also encouraged to practice languages by solving "quests" in the real world, such as ordering a croissant from a bakery in Paris. The Quazel app also provides real-time feedback to users regarding grammar and vocabulary as they practice.

Quazel has a language-learning community on Discord where users are encouraged to share their favorite scenes, provide feedback, request new features, and participate in events.

The company's CEO, Philipp Hadjimina, stated in an interview that making the app's beta available on Y Combinator's Hacker News website played a key role in securing a place in YC's accelerator program:

The website really allowed us to get some early traction and show our idea to people. We posted it to Hacker News and the people loved it there. The overwhelmingly positive reception we got there probably also contributed to being accepted into YC.

An early version of the app was made available for preview on a dedicated webpage.