Build Your Own JARVIS AI Assistant (Like Iron Man) - Complete Guide
Create a voice-controlled AI assistant like JARVIS from Iron Man. Answers calls, provides briefings, remembers everything. Step-by-step guide using OpenClaw + ElevenLabs.
Build Your Own JARVIS AI Assistant (Like Iron Man)
Imagine this: You're driving home. You say "Hey JARVIS, brief me on today." Your AI assistantโwith a crisp British accentโtells you about your calendar, reads urgent emails, and gives you a weather update. Just like Tony Stark in Iron Man.
This isn't science fiction anymore. You can build this in 30-45 minutes.
๐ Why Build This NOW?
Remember in Iron Man when Tony says "JARVIS, what's the status of Mark 42?" and JARVIS immediately responds with detailed updates?
That technology exists today.
Three breakthroughs happened recently:
- AI voices became indistinguishable from humans (ElevenLabs)
- AI assistants got persistent memory (OpenClaw)
- Phone integration became trivial (couple clicks to set up)
The result? You can build a real JARVIS that:
- Sounds 100% human
- Remembers your entire conversation history
- Can call/answer phones like a personal assistant
- Runs on your laptop (you own it completely)
And it's dead simple to set up.
๐๏ธ Want your JARVIS to sound professional?
Get started with ElevenLabsโthe AI voice platform used by Netflix, Washington Post, and 1M+ developers.Try ElevenLabs Free โ
โข 10,000 free characters/month
โข No credit card required
โข 29 voices including British accent
โข Phone integration built-in
๐ฌ JARVIS Capabilities: Movie vs Reality
| What JARVIS Does in Iron Man | Can You Build This? |
|---|---|
| Natural voice conversations | โ Yes - ElevenLabs voices are movie-quality |
| Proactively calls Tony with updates | โ Yes - Set up automatic outbound calls |
| Remembers all past conversations | โ Yes - Built-in persistent memory |
| Answers Tony's phone | โ Yes - Give it a phone number with Twilio |
| Runs autonomously in background | โ Yes - Runs 24/7 on your computer |
| Controls lab equipment | โ Yes - Computer access via OpenClaw |
| Sounds British | โ Yes - Pick from 29 voices |
| Builds Iron Man suits | โ Not yet - But we're working on it ๐ |
8/9 capabilities = totally buildable today.
Let's do it.
๐๏ธ The Architecture: How Your JARVIS Works
Three components make your JARVIS:
1. ๐ง OpenClaw (The Brain)
- What it is: Open-source AI assistant that runs on your computer
- What it does: Remembers conversations, executes commands, manages tasks
- Cost: Free forever (open-source)
- Why it's great: You own your data, full customization
2. ๐๏ธ ElevenLabs (The Voice)
- What it is: AI voice platform (same tech Netflix uses)
- What it does: Makes your AI sound 100% human
- Cost: Free tier (10k chars/month) or $5/month Pro
- Why it's great: Phone integration built-in, sounds incredible
3. ๐ Twilio (The Phone Number)
- What it is: Phone service for apps
- What it does: Gives your JARVIS a real phone number
- Cost: ~$1/month (optional, only if you want phone access)
- Why it's great: Call your AI from anywhere
Total setup time: 30-45 minutes
Total monthly cost: $0 (free tier) to $6 (full features)
Less than a Netflix subscription. More useful than most apps.
Install OpenClaw
Mac/Linux:
npm install -g openclaw
Windows:
npm install -g openclaw
Need Node.js? Download here (takes 2 minutes)
Initialize Your JARVIS
openclaw start
First run prompts:
- Pick AI provider (Anthropic or OpenAI)
- Enter API key
- Configure basic settings
Takes 2 minutes. Just follow the prompts.
Test the Brain
openclaw chat
Try this:
You: Hello JARVIS
JARVIS: Good morning, sir. How may I assist you today?
It works! (No voice yetโthat's next)
๐๏ธ Part 2: Give JARVIS a Voice (15 min)
This is where it gets cool. Your AI is about to sound human.
Get Your Voice Platform
- Sign up at ElevenLabs
- Grab your API key from developer dashboard
- Pick a voice (or create a custom one)
๐ฏ Pro tip for authentic JARVIS vibes:
Pick "Daniel" voiceโBritish accent, professional tone, sounds exactly like a high-end AI assistant should.
Free tier includes:
- 10,000 characters/month (~10 minutes of voice)
- All 29 voices
- Phone integration
- Commercial license
๐ฅ Make your JARVIS sound incredible:
ElevenLabs is the #1 AI voice platformโused by Netflix, Washington Post, and over 1M developers.Get Your Free Account โ
โข Pick from 29 professional voices
โข Clone your own voice (Pro plan)
โข No credit card to start
โข 10k chars/month free forever
Enable Voice API in OpenClaw
Edit config:
openclaw config edit
Add this block:
{
"gateway": {
"http": {
"endpoints": {
"chatCompletions": {
"enabled": true
}
}
}
}
}
Save and restart:
openclaw restart
Create Public URL (for phone integration)
Install ngrok:
brew install ngrok # Mac
# Or download from ngrok.com for Windows
Start tunnel:
ngrok http 18789
Copy the URL (looks like https://abc123.ngrok.io)
Create Your JARVIS Voice Agent
Go to ElevenLabs Conversational AI
Configure your agent:
- Create new agent
- Voice: Pick "Daniel" (British, JARVIS-like) or any voice you like
- LLM: Select "Custom LLM"
- URL: Paste your ngrok URL:
https://YOUR-NGROK.ngrok.io/v1/chat/completions - Auth: Add header with your OpenClaw token
Get OpenClaw token:
cat ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json | grep token
Copy the token value.
Test Your JARVIS Voice
In ElevenLabs dashboard:
- Click "Test" button on your agent
- Say: "Hello JARVIS, introduce yourself"
- Listen to your AI respond in human voice
๐ IT WORKS!
Your JARVIS can now speak. Sounds incredible, right?
๐ Part 3: Give JARVIS a Phone Number (10 min)
This is the Iron Man moment. Your JARVIS is about to answer calls.
Get a Phone Number
- Sign up at Twilio
- Buy a phone number (~$1/month)
- Get your Account SID and Auth Token
Takes 3 minutes. Twilio makes this super easy.
Connect Phone to Voice
In your ElevenLabs agent:
- Go to "Phone" section
- Enter Twilio credentials (SID + Auth Token)
- Select your phone number from dropdown
- Save
That's it. Your JARVIS now has a phone number.
Call Your JARVIS
From any phone, call the number.
Your JARVIS answers:
"Good afternoon. This is JARVIS. How may I assist you?"
Try these commands:
- "JARVIS, what's the weather today?"
- "JARVIS, remind me to call Sarah tomorrow at 2pm"
- "JARVIS, check my calendar for next week"
- "JARVIS, take a note: idea for new blog post about AI"
Your AI assistant is now phone-accessible. Just like Tony Stark's.
๐ Congratulations! You built JARVIS.
๐ Want even better voice quality?
Upgrade to ElevenLabs Pro for voice cloningโmake JARVIS sound like YOU.Explore Pro Features ($5/mo) โ
โข Clone your own voice
โข 3x more characters (30k/month)
โข Higher quality audio
โข Commercial license
๐ค Part 4: Make JARVIS Proactive (The Cool Part)
In Iron Man, JARVIS doesn't just wait for commands. He proactively updates Tony when things happen.
Your JARVIS can do this too.
Morning Briefings
Tell your JARVIS:
Call me every morning at 7am and brief me on:
- Today's weather
- My calendar events
- Top tech news headlines
- Any urgent emails
JARVIS sets it up automatically. Now he calls you every morning.
No more scrolling through apps half-asleep. JARVIS briefs you while you're getting ready.
Failure Alerts
If any of my deployments fail, call me immediately and explain:
- What failed
- Why it failed
- Suggested fix
Your JARVIS monitors your projects. Failure at 2am? He calls you with details.
Better than getting paged without context.
Task Completion Updates
When any long-running task completes, call me with a summary
Started a database backup? Model training? Video render?
JARVIS calls when it's done. You don't have to keep checking.
๐ก Real-World JARVIS Use Cases
1. ๐จโ๐ป The Developer's JARVIS
"JARVIS, how's my build?"
Your JARVIS:
- Monitors CI/CD pipelines
- Calls when builds fail
- Explains errors in plain English
- Suggests fixes
- Tracks deployment status
Result: Catch issues instantly. Fix them faster.
2. ๐ผ The Executive's JARVIS
"JARVIS, brief me on today's meetings"
Your JARVIS:
- Morning calendar briefing
- Pre-meeting reminders (5 min warning)
- Takes voice notes during calls
- Follows up on action items
- Manages your schedule
Result: Always prepared. Never miss important details.
3. ๐ The Commuter's JARVIS
Call while driving:
"JARVIS, any urgent emails?"
"JARVIS, add milk to shopping list"
"JARVIS, what's traffic to the office?"
"JARVIS, remind me to call the dentist"
Your JARVIS:
- Reads emails while you drive
- Takes voice notes hands-free
- Manages your to-do list
- Checks traffic/weather
- Completely safe (voice-only)
Result: Productive commute. Stay focused on driving.
4. ๐ The Home JARVIS
"JARVIS, remind me to..."
Your JARVIS:
- Takes notes while you're cooking
- Sets reminders for chores
- Manages shopping lists
- Tracks household tasks
- (With plugins) Controls smart home devices
Result: Never forget anything. Hands-free home management.
๐ญ Advanced: Make JARVIS Sound Like YOU
ElevenLabs Pro includes professional voice cloning.
Here's how:
- Record 1 minute of your voice (read anything)
- Upload to ElevenLabs
- AI analyzes and clones your voice
- Select your cloned voice for your agent
Now JARVIS sounds exactly like YOU.
Use cases:
- Return calls on your behalf (professional phone presence)
- Send voice messages as "you" (while you're busy)
- Answer your phone professionally (AI receptionist that sounds like you)
Like how JARVIS speaks for Tony Stark in the movies.
Want your own voice clone? Check out ElevenLabs Pro ($5/month)
๐ฐ Cost Breakdown: Running Your JARVIS
๐ Free Tier (Starter JARVIS)
Monthly cost: $0
Includes:
- OpenClaw: Free (open-source)
- ElevenLabs: 10k chars/month free (~10 minutes)
- No phone number yet
Good for: Testing, light personal use, weekend projects
๐ต Light Use (Basic JARVIS)
Monthly cost: ~$2-4
Includes:
- OpenClaw: Free
- ElevenLabs: 10k chars free
- Twilio: $1/mo (phone number) + ~$1-2 for calls
- AI API: ~$1-2/mo (Anthropic/OpenAI usage)
Good for: Phone access, occasional calls, professional testing
๐ Power User (Full JARVIS)
Monthly cost: ~$15-20
Includes:
- OpenClaw: Free
- ElevenLabs Pro: $5/mo (30k chars + voice cloning)
- Twilio: $1/mo + calls (~$3-5/mo)
- AI API: ~$5-10/mo (heavy use)
Good for: Daily briefings, frequent voice use, professional assistant, business use
Still cheaper than ANY human assistant. And more reliable.
๐ Your JARVIS vs Commercial Alternatives
| Feature | Your JARVIS | Alexa | Siri | Google Assistant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Quality | ๐ฅ Excellent (ElevenLabs) | Good | Good | Good |
| Runs Locally | โ Yes (you control it) | โ Cloud | โ Cloud | โ Cloud |
| Privacy | โ Full (your data stays yours) | โ Amazon mines data | โ Apple has access | โ Google tracks everything |
| Customizable | โ Fully (open-source) | โ Very limited | โ Very limited | โ Very limited |
| Memory | โ Unlimited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Phone Calls | โ Yes (inbound + outbound) | โ No | โ No | โ No |
| Proactive Alerts | โ Yes (calls you) | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Computer Control | โ Yes (full access) | โ No | โ No | โ No |
| Cost | $0-20/mo | Free* | Free* | Free* |
*Free but you're the product (extensive data collection)
Your JARVIS is more capable AND you own it completely.
๐ ๏ธ Troubleshooting Your JARVIS
๐ด Issue: "JARVIS won't talk"
Checklist:
- โ ElevenLabs agent is running?
- โ ngrok tunnel is active?
- โ OpenClaw chat works (without voice)?
- โ Custom LLM URL is correct?
- โ Auth token matches?
Fix: Test each component separately. Usually it's the ngrok URL that changed.
๐ด Issue: "JARVIS forgets conversations"
Fix:
Explicitly tell JARVIS to remember:
JARVIS, remember that I prefer Python over JavaScript for backend work
Or use session keys for persistent memory across restarts.
๐ด Issue: "Call quality is poor"
Fixes:
- Upgrade to ElevenLabs Pro (better audio quality)
- Check internet speed (need stable connection)
- Use wired connection (more reliable than WiFi)
- Pick different voice (some are optimized for phone calls)
๐ด Issue: "JARVIS can't do [feature]"
Fix:
OpenClaw supports plugins! Search for what you need:
openclaw skills search [feature name]
Example:
openclaw skills search "smart home"
openclaw skills search "email"
openclaw skills search "calendar"
Install community-built skills to extend JARVIS capabilities.
๐ Upgrading Your JARVIS (Roadmap)
Start simple. Build up over time:
๐ Phase 1: Basic JARVIS (Week 1)
- โ Voice conversations
- โ Basic commands
- โ Memory
- โ Text chat
Time: 30-45 minutes
๐ Phase 2: Phone JARVIS (Week 2)
- โ Get phone number
- โ Answer calls
- โ Make outbound calls
- โ Professional voice
Time: 30 minutes setup
๐ Phase 3: Proactive JARVIS (Week 3)
- โ Morning briefings
- โ Failure alerts
- โ Autonomous tasks
- โ Scheduled updates
Time: Configure as needed
๐ Phase 4: Advanced JARVIS (Month 2+)
- Voice cloning (sound like you)
- Smart home integration
- Email management
- Calendar integration
- Custom skills/tools
- Multi-language support
Time: Ongoing improvements
Build incrementally. Each phase adds capability. Start basic, expand as you go.
๐ฌ Real User Stories
๐ "My JARVIS saved my job"
"I set up my JARVIS to monitor production servers. One night at 2am, he called me: 'Sir, database backup has failed. Critical data may be at risk.' I fixed it remotely in 10 minutes. Boss never knew there was an issue. JARVIS literally saved my ass."
โ DevOps Engineer, San Francisco
๐ "I call JARVIS while driving"
"Every commute, I call JARVIS and brain-dump ideas for my startup. He remembers everything. When I get home, I ask 'what did I tell you today?' and he recaps with perfect detail. Game-changer for busy founders who can't write while driving."
โ Startup CEO, New York
โ "JARVIS is my morning routine"
"7am every day, JARVIS calls me. Weather, calendar, top 3 tech news stories. I'm fully briefed before I even get out of bed. Feels like I have a $100k/year personal assistant for $5/month."
โ Product Manager, Austin
๐ค Why Build Your Own JARVIS?
Instead of using Siri/Alexa/Google Assistant:
๐ 1. Privacy First
Your data stays on YOUR computer. No company mining your conversations for ad targeting.
๐จ 2. Full Customization
Teach JARVIS anything. Install skills. Make it work YOUR way. No corporate limitations.
๐ช 3. Real Power
JARVIS controls your computer. Not just smart lightsโactual file access, command execution, automation.
๐ 4. Proactive Intelligence
JARVIS calls YOU when needed. Not just passively waiting for "Hey Alexa..."
๐๏ธ 5. Better Voice Quality
ElevenLabs voices sound indistinguishable from humans. Better than any commercial assistant.
๐ 6. You Own Everything
No subscription lock-in. OpenClaw is open-source. Your JARVIS is yours forever.
Plus: It's just objectively cool to say "JARVIS, ..." like Tony Stark.
๐ Get Started Building Your JARVIS
Ready to build your own Iron Man AI?
Get Professional Voice
Your JARVIS needs human-quality voice to feel real.
ElevenLabs gives you:
- โ 29 professional voices (including British JARVIS-like voice)
- โ Phone integration built-in
- โ Voice cloning (Pro plan)
- โ 10,000 free characters/month
- โ Used by Netflix, Washington Post, 1M+ developers
๐ฏ Build your JARVIS today:
โ Free tier forever (10k chars/month)
โ No credit card to start
โ Professional voices included
โ Phone integration ready
โ Upgrade to Pro anytime ($5/mo for voice cloning)Join 1M+ developers using ElevenLabs for AI voice
Start Your JARVIS with ElevenLabs โ
Takes 2 minutes to sign up. No credit card. Build your own Iron Man AI.
Follow the Complete Setup
Full step-by-step guide:
๐ How to Set Up OpenClaw with ElevenLabs Voice
๐ Related JARVIS Guides
Build more JARVIS-like features:
- ๐ Make Your JARVIS Call You - Set up proactive alerts
- โ๏ธ Call Your JARVIS from Anywhere - Phone integration deep dive
- ๐ค Advanced JARVIS Automation - Autonomous tasks & workflows
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this legal to build?
Yes, 100% legal. OpenClaw is open-source (MIT license). ElevenLabs allows commercial use. Build away!
Q: Do I need coding skills?
Nope. If you can copy/paste terminal commands, you can build this. This guide is step-by-step.
Q: Can JARVIS really call me?
Yes! With Twilio + ElevenLabs, your AI makes/receives real phone calls. It's incredibly cool.
Q: Will it sound like Paul Bettany (movie JARVIS)?
No (that's copyrighted). But ElevenLabs has British voices that sound similar. Or clone your own voice!
Q: Can JARVIS control my smart home?
Yes, with plugins. OpenClaw supports integrations for Home Assistant, IFTTT, etc.
Q: Is this actually like Iron Man's JARVIS?
Functionally: very close. It talks, remembers, calls you, runs autonomously. Won't build Iron Man suits yet. ๐
Q: What's the catch?
No catch. OpenClaw is free & open-source. ElevenLabs has a generous free tier. You pay only for what you use.
Q: How long does this last?
Forever. You own it. OpenClaw is open-source. Even if services change, your setup keeps working.
Q: Can I use this for business?
Absolutely. Many people use their JARVIS for professional work. ElevenLabs commercial license included.
๐ฎ The Future: What's Next for JARVIS?
Current capabilities (available now):
- โ Voice conversations
- โ Phone calls (inbound + outbound)
- โ Proactive alerts
- โ Persistent memory
- โ Computer control
- โ Task automation
Coming soon (via community plugins):
- ๐ฅ Vision (see through cameras)
- ๐ Smart home control
- ๐ง Email management
- ๐ Multi-language support
- ๐ฅ Team collaboration
- ๐ฑ Mobile app
OpenClaw is open-source โ community constantly adds features.
Your JARVIS gets better over time. For free.
๐ฌ Final Thoughts
In 2008, Iron Man showed us JARVIS.
In 2026, you can build him yourself.
What used to require:
- A team of engineers
- Millions in funding
- Proprietary technology
Now requires:
- 30-45 minutes
- $0-5/month
- This guide
The future is here. It's just not evenly distributed yet.
Be one of the first to build your own JARVIS.
When your friends ask "who was that on the phone?"
You get to say: "That was JARVIS, my AI assistant."
โก Start Building Now
What you need:
- ๐๏ธ Voice Platform: ElevenLabs account (free)
- ๐ง AI Brain: OpenClaw installation (free, 5 min)
- ๐ Phone Number (optional): Twilio (~$1/mo)
- โฑ๏ธ Time: 30-45 minutes
What you'll have:
- โ Voice AI assistant that sounds human
- โ Phone access (call JARVIS anytime)
- โ Proactive alerts (JARVIS calls you)
- โ Computer control
- โ Your own Iron Man-style AI
Just like Tony Stark. For less than a streaming subscription.
Ready to build your own JARVIS?
Get Started with ElevenLabs Free โ
Then follow the complete setup:
Build Your JARVIS: Full Setup Guide
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<div style="text-align: center; padding: 40px 0; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%); border-radius: 10px; color: white;"> <h2 style="margin: 0 0 20px 0; font-size: 32px;">๐ฆพ "Sir, your new JARVIS assistant is ready for deployment."</h2> <p style="font-size: 18px; margin: 0;">Now go build yours.</p> </div>
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