AI reshapes audiobook industry: voice cloning, self-publishing tools, and piracy concerns
By
Millicent Weber
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
The article examines how AI is rapidly transforming the audiobook industry across multiple fronts. It covers Bolinda's announcement to create an AI clone of romance author Barbara Cartland's voice (with estate approval), Spotify's partnership with ElevenLabs to let self-published authors create AI-narrated audiobooks, and a New York Times exposé revealing massive AI-enabled audiobook piracy on YouTube. The piece explores the tensions between innovation and ethical concerns, including impacts on human narrators, copyright issues, and the quality of AI-generated narration.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledAustralia-based audiobook producer Bolinda recently announced it will create a 'bespoke' AI clone of romance bestseller Barbara Cartland's voice, in partnership with her estate.
Spotify announced a tool (created by synthetic voice company ElevenLabs) that will allow self-published authors to create audiobooks voiced by AI on its platform, and publish them anywhere.
A recent New York Times exposé revealed AI-enabled audiobook piracy on a massive scale on YouTube, with versions appearing of bestselling books.
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