Apple’s New AI Narrators Blur the Line Between Human and Digital Voices
Apple has introduced new AI narrators, Madison and Jackson, to read audiobooks on Apple Books. These AI voices are said to sound warm, natural, and animated, diverging from the robotic tones of Siri or Alexa. The level of realism portrayed by these new narrators is so advanced that listeners may not even be aware that they are artificial voices. Apple’s catalog phrases describing these narrators as digital voices based on a human narrator only adds to the ambiguity surrounding their true nature.
The issue of awareness and consent arises when users interact with AI-driven technology without realizing it. If listeners are unaware that the narrator is a digital voice, ethical questions come into play. Additionally, when listeners are aware of the artificiality but still project ideas of personhood onto the digital voice, it raises a more complex problem.
Apple’s marketing language contributes to this ambiguity as it presents the digital voice technology as harmless and inclusive. The company emphasizes the democratizing potential of these AI narrators, empowering indie authors and small publishers. However, in this process, the livelihood of voice actors might be jeopardized, pitting the interests of two different little guys against each other.
Furthermore, the datasets used to train Apple’s digital voices have reportedly included the work of existing voice artists, sparking outrage within the voice acting community. In its attempt to disrupt the audiobook industry and favor independent creators, Apple’s marketing strategy aligns with the trope of platform capitalism, where big companies provide the technological infrastructure for others to operate.
Although tech disruptors often use pseudo-altruistic language to present themselves, the encounter with AI narrators unveils the underlying fiction. Similar to the self-deception involved in assuming a human narrator, it requires a certain level of self-deception to believe that Apple’s digital voice technology is truly altruistic.
Recognizing these acts of imagination is crucial in understanding the dynamics of belief. It is easy to be deceived by the flexible driver narrative promoted by Uber or the sense of connection and belonging propagated by Airbnb. Listening to artificially intelligent narrators might serve as a reminder to question our own biases and consider the true motives behind technology-driven developments.
In conclusion, Apple’s new AI narrators blur the line between human and digital voices, raising ethical concerns regarding awareness and consent. While Apple markets its technology as inclusive and empowering, it may inadvertently harm voice actors and promote a distorted narrative of technological altruism. By critically examining these narratives, we can become more conscious consumers and make informed decisions about supporting AI-narrated audiobooks.
