OpenAI just announced that it recently conducted a small-scale preview of a new tool called Voice Engine. This is a voice cloning technology that can mimic any speaker by analyzing a 15-second audio sample. The company says it generates “natural-sounding speech” with “emotive and realistic voices.” The technology is based on the company’s pre-existing text-to-speech API and it has been in the works since 2022. OpenAI has already been using a version of the toolset to power the preset voices available in the current text-to-speech API and the Read Aloud feature. There are a bunch of samples on the company’s official blog and they sound eerily close to the real thing. I encourage you to give them a listen and imagine the possibilities, both good and bad. OpenAI says they see this technology being useful for reading assistance, language translation and helping those who suffer from sudden or degenerative speech conditions. The company brought up a Brown University pilot program that helped a patient with speech impairment issues by creating a Voice Engine clone pulled from audio recorded for a school project. Despite the potential benefits, bad actors would certainly abuse this technology to engage in some serious deepfake tomfoolery, which is already a problem. With this in mind, Voice Engine isn’t quite ready for prime time, as there are serious privacy concerns that must be met before a full rollout. OpenAI acknowledges that this tech has “serious risks, which are... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2024-03-29 19:03:56 UTC ]
'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir and narrated by Ray Porter was named the Audiobook of the Year at the 2022 Audie Awards held March 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Over half a decade later, a new Kickstarter campaign has finally eclipsed Pebble's crowdfunding record on the website. Fantasy and sci-fi author Brandon Sanderson set up a campaign to raise $1 million within 30 days to fund four secret books he intends to release every quarter next year. It... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-03-04 12:57:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Duvall Hecht, audiobook pioneer and founder of Books on Tape, died on February 10 at his home in Costa Mesa, Calif. He was 91. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Listen to an audiobook or bookish podcast while piecing these together to celebrate your book love and block out the stresses of the world.- Danika Ellis Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-02-20 11:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The founder of Audible Inc., a leading force in the booming audiobook industry, will be honored in May at PEN America’s annual gala Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2022-02-18 15:03:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A look at six of today's biggest and most interesting YA audiobook performers, with a little about who they are and some of their best work. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-02-12 11:31:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Stephen King has written “a magnificent and terrifying tale” about a teenage boy with keys to a parallel world. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-25 09:54:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A bunch of new tech sales cropped up at the start of the week for things like robot vacuums, game controllers and more, and many of them are still around today. A trio of iRobot devices remain discounted, with the most affordable of the bunch coming in at $179. Some of Amazon's Fire tablets are... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-01-21 16:45:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Interviews Weina Dai Randel burst onto the literary scene a number of years ago with her duology about Empress Wu Zetian, China’s first woman leader. After winning the prestigious Rita Award in 2017 and seeing her novels translated into seven... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2022-01-20 14:33:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Today’s edition of SFF Daily Deals is sponsored by the audiobook Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves.`the audiobook Cold the Night, Fast the... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-01-17 14:13:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A narrator can make or break the listening experience. Over several related novels, they can become friend (or foe). Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-16 13:00:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This week brought deals on Apple devices, gaming gear and more. The Mac Mini M1 remains on sale for $600 while the 3rd-generation AirPods are back down to a record low of $140. Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure is back in stock and $25 off, while you can still get a one-year Switch Online family... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-01-14 16:45:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this
If you’re looking for a great LGBTQIA+ audiobook to listen to in the first half of 2022, here are 12 recommendations. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-01-13 11:38:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Manchester University Press (MUP) has launched an audiobook pilot programme, following claims students with 'screen fatigue' are increasingly turning to the format. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-13 00:08:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Your first audiobook of the year sets the tone for the rest of the reading year. So how do you make sure to pick the right one? Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-01-11 11:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Today’s edition of SFF Daily Deals is sponsored by the audiobook edition of The Starless Crown. `the audiobook edition of The Starless... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-01-10 13:52:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Storytel reports good momentum for its audiobook and ebook streaming services in Poland, Russia, and Turkey—and less so in the Netherlands. The post Sweden’s Storytel Cites a 20-Percent Gain in 2021 over 2020 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-01-10 12:45:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this
RBmedia has entered the German audiobook market using a two-step approach: forming RBmedia Verlag and acquiring German audiobook publisher ABOD to supply titles to the new unit. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A new unabridged audiobook of James Hilton’s Goodbye Mr Chips (Hodder & Stoughton) will be narrated by actor Robert Bathurst. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-05 18:00:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Audiobook giant RBmedia has acquired leading German publisher ABOD and is making it's first foray into the German-language market under the new brand RBmedia Verlag. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-05 13:45:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this