Hi, Kat! I appreciate your kind words. As more AI companies try to gain footholds in the audiobook industry, it’s increasingly important that narrators highlight the many irreplaceable skills we bring to the table.

Karen

I want to thank you for this wonderfully written “open letter”!! You have summed up the most important reason for each of us to stand behind!!! The true and unique way that we “voice” our stories to all listeners!! We “feel” the content of the story, we “voice” the feeling and intention through our own “human” voice.

The importance of being “human” is the point of audiobooks and performances! It is what I love when listening to audiobooks and what I love about narrating! Bringing a book to “life”, the intention, the characters and the scene description!!

Thanks Karen for all you do!

Kat Carpentio

Absolutely love this idea, I’m going to start suggesting it to all of my clients.

Hi, Fiona! The concern about AI in audiobooks rose with the publication of this grossly biased article in Publishers Weekly. The recently-formed Professional Audiobook Narrators Association has asked PW for a follow-up article with narrators to give a more balanced view to the topic.

Meanwhile, late on Friday the 29th, the Bee CEO sent his attempt at an apology letter, in which he stated:

I did not appreciate how sensitive this topic is for many of you. Like I said, I have a lot to learn.

Yes, he does have A LOT to learn, but I and many other professional narrators don’t have the time, patience, or inclination to educate him. I’m not sure how you can become the CEO of an audiobook production company and not think that narrators would be “sensitive” to casual comments about being replaced by AI!

The apology email was only sent after a number of narrators asked to be removed from the Bee roster and asked the hiring publishers to router their projects through a different production company.

I’m sure I’ll have more to say about AI, so please watch for future posts.

Thanks for your comment.

Karen

Hi, T.M.! I hope you’ll share your view with all of your author friends!

While it might seem attractive to some authors to pay a lower cost for a synthesized voice, devoted audiobook listeners expect to hear a human voice tell them a nuanced story. I can just picture the bad reviews for an audiobook with an AI voice.

Thanks for your comment.

Karen

AI is a mistake.

Hi, Ralph! With your stature in the industry, I’m sure you’ll get Roy’s attention! I’ll be interested to learn the outcome.

Thanks for stopping by the blog.

Karen

Hi, Isobel! I think those authors who jump at a “free” AI audiobook will get what they pay for. Their listeners will complain about the quality, if they can even distribute the book beyond Google. Many (hopefully, most) distributors won’t accept audiobooks produced with synthesized voices. ACX lists a human voice among its submission requirements for Audible, Amazon, and Apple. The page states “Audible listeners choose audiobooks for the performance of the material, as well as the story.”

Unfortunately, half the American population still hasn’t experienced the joy of listening to an audiobook. If their first one has an AI voice or even a poor performance from a human, they may not come back to the medium.

Thank you for being a firm supporter and producer of quality audiobooks of your books!

Karen