AI is Bringing the Dead Back to Life, for the Right Price!

Edward Herrmann, the accomplished actor known for his narration of countless audiobooks, has been gone for nearly ten years. However, his iconic voice continues to grace recent audiobooks, thanks to groundbreaking technology from DeepZen Ltd. The London-based artificial intelligence startup has brought Herrmann's voice back to life by using his past recordings, made available with his family's consent.

Edward Herrmann's son, Rory Herrmann, a Los Angeles restaurateur, is amazed by how accurately his father's synthetic voice has been replicated, describing the experience as a "wow moment." He believes that this innovative technology is a fantastic way to preserve and honor his father's legacy.

The impact of AI on audiobook narration is already evident, with thousands of AI-narrated audiobooks available on well-known platforms such as Google Play Books and Apple Books. Although Amazon's Audible, the largest US audiobook service, does not currently offer any AI-narrated audiobooks, the company is considering its stance on the matter.

While major US book publishers have yet to widely adopt this technology, smaller publishers and lesser-known authors have benefited from the cost-effective nature of AI-generated audiobooks. Traditional audio recording expenses can reach upwards of $5,000, making it a challenge for authors with limited sales potential.

Dima Abramov, CEO of Speechki, an audiobook producer based in Austin, Texas, that utilizes synthetic voices, notes that human narrators are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of AI on their livelihoods.

As AI technology continues to evolve and improve, the potential for job displacement in various fields grows. However, the current resurgence of Edward Herrmann's voice serves as a poignant example of how AI can also preserve and extend the legacies of talented individuals in innovative ways.