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 ]
Condé Nast Pulls Investment From FarFetch [caption id="attachment_161701" align="alignright" width="150"] José Neves[/caption] Condé Nast pulled its nearly $300 million investment in the London-based luxury fashion retail marketplace FarFetch, following concerns about the management of the... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-09 18:18:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Paul McCartney will narrate the audiobook edition of his upcoming picture book, Hey Grandude! (Puffin), which is inspired by his experiences of being a grandfather. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-04 02:57:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A reader comes to terms with the role audiobooks play in her ability to be more mindful for the sake of her mental health, and considers reading life solutions. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-01 10:41:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sweden’s Bonnier has announced a sweeping expansion in Europe of its BookBeat digital service, multiplying by seven times its former reach in terms of markets for audiobooks and ebooks. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson Service Has More Than 50,000 Audiobooks and Ebooks he... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-06-24 12:55:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Audiobook streaming service BookBeat has launched in 24 new European markets, making the service available in 28 countries overall. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-24 12:31:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A little under two years after its five-season run ended on BBC America, Orphan Black is returning with a bang, and probably loads more sound effects. Fiction publishing startup Serial Box is reviving the beloved sci-fi show this summer as a ten-epis... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-06-13 22:51:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Angelica Gonzalez used to read about a book a year. Then she discovered the Libby app, which allows anyone with a Los Angeles Public Library card to borrow e-books, audiobooks and other electronic media — for free. Now Gonzalez regularly checks out titles and transfers them to her Kindle.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-12 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Bill Clinton, James Patterson and Stephen King are on the CrimeFest Awards shortlist, which this year features a mix of established names and new talent. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Thriller author Don Winslow wants to debate Donald Trump about the president's proposed border wall, and Stephen King is willing to pay $10,000 to make it happen. Winslow, whose new novel, "The Border," is slated for release by Harper Collins imprint William Morrow next week, challenged Trump to... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Hodder will publish Stephen King's new novel The Institute in September 2019 after the "thrilling and suspenseful" book was acquired by Jamie Hodder-Williams from Chuck Verrill at Darhansoff and Verrill in New York. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Backed by social media support from author and Maine resident Stephen King, a petition and lobbying effort by the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance has successfully persuaded the 'Portland Press Herald' to reinstate its local book review coverage. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Press Herald turns tweet aghast at plan to drop Maine content into chance to attract 100 digital subscriptionsA Maine newspaper that horrified the bestselling author Stephen King by dropping its local book review coverage used his complaint to boost digital subscriptions. Related: 'Judge me by... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
William Goldman famously penned the words “Nobody knows anything” in his Hollywood memoir “Adventures in the Screen Trade.” But in the wake of his passing, it is clear that the film industry does know one thing: how much Goldman will be missed. The Oscar-winning screenwriter of “All the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This week: new books from Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, Michael Connelly, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Hi — I’m Carolyn Kellogg, books editor of the L.A. Times. This week in print you’ll find the Fall Arts Preview — books included. THE BIG BOOKS This fall brings books from Michelle Obama, Jonathan Franzen, Haruki Murakami, Michael Connelly, Stephen King and more; see our picks of books you won’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Stephen King's 'The Outsider' stayed #1 in Apple's iBooks store last week, followed by Nora Roberts's 'Shelter in Place.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Stephen King has the #1 book in the country with ‘The Outsider.’ Plus John McCain and James R. Clapper release political memoirs, and Bill Gates names his summer reads. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Stephen King, a man who is no stranger to the top of any bestseller list, saw 'The Outsider,' his latest, take the #1 spot in Apple's iBooks store last week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A case for ‘Why We Need Religion’ and an in-depth look at the religious inspiration behind Stephen King’s work in 'America’s Dark Theologian' are among the big religion and spirituality books publishing in June. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This week's notable book acquisitions in Hollywood include a seven-figure preempt to option a HaprerCollins thriller, and a film deal for a narrative poem by Stephen King. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this