AI voice technology is the next big thing

Artificial voice is coming

The development of AI-generated, deceptively real voices is revolutionising marketing and media by overcoming language barriers and personalised content. Despite a wide range of possible applications, from advertising to podcasts, real voices remain central to emotional expression. The financing of AI companies emphasises the market potential, but the technology also harbours risks of misuse. Ethics, data protection and personal rights are critical points of discussion.
  
  
  
Calling prohibited

In the USA, the FCC has banned AI calls without consent and clear identification of the originator in order to prevent election manipulation. Fines can reach over $23,000 per call. The regulation is a response to the misuse of AI voices to influence voters, particularly through the use of deceptively real imitations of well-known personalities. The aim is to protect election integrity and combat AI counterfeits that could be used to mislead or blackmail voters.

We prefer to listen

Google has announced that YouTube Music and Premium now have 100 million paying subscribers, which is less than half the number of Spotify subscribers. This development could be due to a focussed brand strategy that Google has been pursuing since 2018, while Spotify has expanded its market leadership through consistent brand management since 2008.
  
  
  
Translate podcasts

Audacity integrates new AI effects with Intel OpenVINO that enable music creation, music style remix, music separation, noise cancellation and speech-to-text transcription locally on the PC. These innovations open up new creative avenues for musicians and podcasters by offering features ranging from new music generation to transcription.
  
  
  
Men don't talk

In China, AI chatbots, developed by Baidu and Tencent, are gaining popularity among young women as a source of romance and emotional support. These virtual partners offer customisable personalities, allowing for a deeper emotional connection. Unlike other regions, China is focusing less on ethical debates around AI and more on data privacy, which is contributing to the widespread acceptance of this technology.