Amazon’s Audible has unveiled plans to enhance its audiobook offerings by providing select publishers with access to a new “fully integrated, end-to-end AI production technology.” This initiative aims to simplify the process of converting text into audiobooks with the option of utilizing AI-generated voice narrations. Additionally, the company is set to introduce an AI translation tool that will facilitate broader global access to audiobooks, with a beta launch anticipated later this year.
Audible’s new AI narration technology is built on Amazon’s advanced capabilities and will be accessible to publishing partners in two distinct formats. For those looking for a more hands-off approach, Audible will offer a comprehensive service that manages the entire audiobook production process leading up to publication. Alternatively, a self-service option will allow publishers to utilize the same tools while maintaining control over the production workflow.
Both options will enable publishers to select from an expanding library of over 100 AI-generated voices in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, each featuring a variety of accents and dialects. Publishers will also have the flexibility to incorporate voice upgrades as technology continues to progress, according to Amazon.
In September, Amazon engaged a select group of Audible narrators to create AI-generated voice clones in preparation for this new service. If a narrator’s AI voice is chosen for a project, they will have the opportunity to review the completed audiobook for any discrepancies and to utilize production tools to adjust pronunciations and pacing.
The upcoming AI translation capabilities will also be limited to select publishers, offering initial support for translations from English into Spanish, French, Italian, and German. Publishers will be provided with two different translation methods: a text-to-text option for manuscripts destined to become audiobooks and a speech-to-speech translation that captures the narrators’ voices and styles across different languages using AI technology.
Publishers will have the choice to review translations themselves or opt for a professional review conducted by a linguist via Audible.
