Human readers have typically narrated audiobooks, but Apple is trying to digitize the process by creating audiobooks narrated by artificial intelligence (AI). People are always on the move nowadays, and they might not have the time to sit down and read a book. As a result, the popularity of audiobooks and podcasts has surged in recent years. But for independent authors and small publishers, it can be extremely costly to hire a professional narrator to turn a book into an audiobook. But the involvement of artificial intelligence could signal the end of human narrators in the audiobook industry.
Apple quietly dropped a support article that outlined the functionality and potential that comes with AI-based audiobook narration, as first reported by The Guardian. Although Apple is claiming the move benefits authors and consumers alike, since AI allows more books to be sold and enjoyed as audiobooks, the company navigated the technology's release with a familiar level of secrecy. According to The Guardian's report, as long as participating authors agree to keep the tech's inner workings private by signing non-disclosure agreements, Apple will front production costs for AI audiobooks, and give authors and publishers royalties from sales.
How AI Audiobooks Work & Sound To Listeners
The benefit of AI-based narration is simple: independent authors and small publishers cannot afford to create audiobooks narrated by professional human readers. Using AI to narrate audiobooks lowers the production cost and complexity, making it easily attainable to nearly all authors and publishers.
There are a few limitations for now, though. While the company's AI voices have different vocal ranges for a more natural sound, they are catered to specific genres and speaking styles. Currently, Apple's offering is limited to books in the romance and fiction genres. But are these advancements enough to overcome the hurdles that digital narration has faced thus far?
It is extremely difficult to create a digital voice that replicates the unique speaking styles and mannerisms of human voices, and that plays a role in the success of AI-based audiobook narration. People do not typically enjoy listening to digital voices for long periods because of how unnatural they usually are. The sample voices found on Apple's website have come a long way from the first digital voices that were engineered, but they are still clearly digital and are less engaging than human voices.
Critics of Apple's latest program suggest that AI audiobook narration could mark the end of professional voice acting, especially in the audiobook industry. They contend that the elimination of human narration would not only result in job loss but also eliminate an entire art form in itself.
Digitally-narrated titles with artificial intelligence can be found in the Apple Books store, and have 'Narrated by Apple Books' in the byline.
Source: Apple, The Guardian