Apple has recently rolled out a new feature for its audiobooks on its Books app called “digital narration,” which allows AI to narrate the audiobooks instead of human narrators.
The Pros and Cons of Apple’s New Audiobook Feature
This move has sparked controversy, with some publishing companies arguing that listeners prefer an authentic human voice that can provide inflections and tones that AI cannot replicate.
Despite this criticism, this feature is intended to reduce costs for book publishers and promote independently published authors.
According to The Guardian, Apple had initially planned to release the feature in mid-November, but it was delayed due to the chaos surrounding Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover and layoffs at Meta.
The Books app now includes a collection of AI-narrated books, which significantly cuts costs for book publishers who typically invest thousands of dollars to produce audiobooks.
Apple states on its Books for Authors website that the new feature will help promote independently published authors, who often invest in the creation of their own books through self-publishing or hybrid publishing, in which the author works with a book publisher while financially investing in marketing and production.
To partner with Apple for the digital narration feature, independent publishers in the U.S. and Canada were reportedly approached by the company and asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, a common practice in the tech industry.
Authors who agreed to have their work turned into an audiobook were told that they would pay for the cost of production but would receive royalties from their audiobook sales.
Audiobook popularity has surged in recent years, with audiobook sales increasing by 25% last year, bringing in more than $1.5 billion to the audiobook market. The industry is expected to reach $33.5 billion in overall revenue this year.
Apple’s Books for Authors website claims that bringing AI narration to published works helps authors “meet the growing demand by making more books available for listeners to enjoy.” The AI-narrated feature is currently only available for fiction and romance books and offers two voices, Madison and Jackson, for the listener to choose from.
Apple also plans to extend the feature to non-fiction and self-development genres, offering two AI-generated voices, Helena and Mitchell.
While the digital narration feature may bring cost savings for book publishers, it remains to be seen whether it will be successful in meeting the demand for audiobooks.
Some argue that the overall value of human-narrated audiobooks far outweighs the cost, and that listeners prefer the authenticity of a human voice.
Moreover, the success of the feature may depend on the quality of the AI-generated voices and whether they are able to effectively convey the emotions and nuances of the written work.
The rollout of the digital narration feature for audiobooks highlights the increasing use of AI in various industries and the potential impact it may have on jobs traditionally held by humans.
While the cost savings may be appealing, it is important to consider the preferences of consumers and the potential consequences for those whose jobs may be replaced by AI.
