The Norwegian news provider isn’t using synthetic voices to read out its articles, but instead has cloned the voice of one of its reporters.
Aftenbladet has unveiled an innovative “cloned voice” feature designed to enhance the accessibility of its journalism, allowing readers to listen to articles rather than read them. This new service, driven by artificial intelligence technology, replicates the voice of journalist Ola Myrset, who has dedicated over 20 hours to recording 130 articles that form the basis of this initiative.
Launched in a beta version, the service will undergo a two-week testing phase before a broader rollout. The primary objective is to cater to audiences who may not always have the ability to read printed articles, making news consumption more convenient for busy lifestyles. Elin Stueland, the project manager responsible for the artificial intelligence integration at Aftenbladet, noted that this feature is particularly aimed at those who wish to stay updated while engaged in other activities such as cooking, driving, or taking walks.
Myrset described the experience of recording his voice for this purpose as both interesting and enjoyable. He explained the challenges involved in striking the balance between maintaining a smooth reading flow and ensuring clear pronunciation, elements that are crucial for a satisfactory listening experience.
The development of the cloned voice places significant emphasis on accuracy, especially concerning local place names, to uphold the credibility and context of the news. Stueland highlighted the importance of the voice being representative of the Aftenbladet brand, akin to a distinctive font that embodies the newspaper’s identity.
Looking ahead, Aftenbladet has plans to expand this initiative beyond the initial selection of articles. Future features may include customisable playlists, allowing readers to curate their own audio experiences based on their interests. The AI-driven voice technology will continue to improve, with plans to address any mispronunciations and enhance the service based on reader feedback.
The implementation of the cloned voice is indicative of broader trends in the news publishing industry, where artificial intelligence tools are increasingly transforming content creation and distribution. Automating the editing and production processes, alongside predictive content tools, are becoming essential for news organisations seeking to adapt to evolving reader habits and preferences.
Stueland expressed enthusiasm about the potential impact on readership, particularly in engaging younger demographics who may prefer consuming content in audio format. Aftenbladet is actively seeking feedback on this new feature from its audience, indicating a commitment to collaborative development and responsiveness to listener preferences.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://help.naturalreaders.com/en/articles/9151105-voice-cloning-personal-version – Explains the process of voice cloning using AI technology, including the steps and limitations, which supports the concept of AI-driven voice replication.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT-OyDzjAZo – Demonstrates the use of AI for voice cloning, particularly with 11 Labs, and discusses the application in various media like podcasts, which aligns with the use of AI in content creation.
- https://www.rask.ai/voicecloning – Details the process and benefits of voice cloning, including its accuracy and multilingual capabilities, which is relevant to the emphasis on accuracy and brand representation in the article.
- https://til.simonwillison.net/misc/voice-cloning – Provides an example of how easy it is to clone a voice using ElevenLabs, highlighting the technical aspects and user experience, similar to the recording process described in the article.
- https://elevenlabs.io/voice-cloning – Outlines the features and benefits of voice cloning, including its application in various media and the importance of voice quality, which supports the initiative of enhancing news consumption through audio.
- https://help.naturalreaders.com/en/articles/9151105-voice-cloning-personal-version#Language-Support – Discusses the multilingual capabilities of cloned voices, which is relevant to the potential expansion of the service to cater to diverse audiences.
- https://www.rask.ai/voicecloning – Highlights the ethical and legal considerations of voice cloning, which is important for initiatives like Aftenbladet’s to ensure compliance and user trust.
- https://elevenlabs.io/voice-cloning – Explains the streamlined cloning process and the emphasis on maintaining the unique characteristics of the voice, which aligns with the need for a voice representative of the Aftenbladet brand.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT-OyDzjAZo – Shows how AI-generated voices can be used in various applications, including podcasts and videos, which supports the idea of expanding the service beyond initial articles.
- https://til.simonwillison.net/misc/voice-cloning – Demonstrates the potential for customizing audio experiences based on user preferences, such as translating text into different languages, which aligns with the future plans for customizable playlists.
- https://www.rask.ai/voicecloning – Discusses the user-friendly interface and the importance of feedback in improving the service, which is consistent with Aftenbladet’s approach to seeking audience feedback.
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