ai text to speech

ai text to speech

The Power of AI Text-to-Speech Technology

1. Introduction to AI Text-to-Speech

There have been rapid advances in AI technology over the last few years. One particularly revolutionary area is in natural language processing, including speech synthesis. AI text-to-speech technology has changed voice synthesis dramatically, providing more natural and dynamic-sounding voices. This technology has become increasingly popular with companies, particularly those needing a professional and dynamic voice to present text to potential consumers. Many commonly used speech synthesis systems, such as concatenated or formant synthesis, have been replaced by more dynamic, flexible, and cost-effective methods. This report will cover the various methods of AI text-to-speech synthesis, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each. It will also cover the uses of this technology to present dynamically generated information (e.g., weather or stock reports) and how AI has affected the quality and usability of these voices. Finally, the report will also cover some of the more unique and interesting applications and future areas of research for AI text-to-speech technology.

2. Benefits of AI Text-to-Speech

As for now, the TTS transcription of AI still has a long way to go. However, there is great potential and cause for optimism. In the same way that advances in AI have led to rapid improvement in natural language processing and generation (NLP/NLG), such as Google Duplex’s eerily convincing booking-a-haircut phone call, the increased availability and utility of machine learning algorithms means TTS algorithms and models can train on ever larger and better datasets to produce more convincing audio. Deep learning model WaveNet, introduced by Google in 2016, marked a significant leap forward in natural sounding audio synthesis, and is now becoming employed in the latest consumer grade TTS solutions. Furthermore, mother companies of TTS technology are recognising both its potential and the currently unmet demand, leading to increased investment and competition in AI TTS research and development. So why is all this development an exciting prospect for people using AAC and of interest to a wider audience? The benefits and potential uses of AI TTS are far-reaching. At its simplest and most fundamental level, better TTS means a more convincing vocal emulation of the recorded user, allowing them to literally find a voice more recognisable as their own. Furthermore, better and more expressive synthesis of natural sounding speech means better communication of more complex and subtle thoughts and emotions. This, in turn, allows for more engaging and meaningful interaction with others, and thus improved quality of life. These are crucial factors not just for those suffering from motor neuron diseases such as Stephen Hawking, but any individual who uses AAC, where it is only through their synthesised voice that they may be known to others.

3. Applications of AI Text-to-Speech

AI text-to-speech will also have significant potential to aid in language learning and research of linguistic structures. By providing real-time and natural sounding audio of words and phrases, it can aid in the analysis of how language is spoken and provide a way to compare different language structures and accents. Foreign language students and even those with speech disorders may find it a very useful tool. Finally, in its future, AI text-to-speech may be able to aid in breaking down language barriers with a real-time translation tool.

With its wide range of accents and varied voice characteristics, text-to-speech may also be an alternative to automation in the future of voice acting. It can allow virtual characters in movies and film CGI to have a voice and dialogue, or allow web comics and animations to add voice overs to their cartoons. Today, AT&T Natural Voices and TextAloud have formed a partnership with JCOM/Japan Communications Inc to provide a way for cell phone users to listen to their favorite websites and news in spoken Japanese. The service requires J Talk, which is a text-to-speech reader for PC. These audio files can also be distributed through a Bluetooth wireless connection. Headphones and earpieces are not necessary, providing a hands and eyes-free means of obtaining information in the modern-day mobile age.

Another increasingly important role AI text-to-speech plays in the modern world is in the field of entertainment. For video games and multimedia, there is a growing need for voice overs and character dialogue. With speech synthesis technology, game developers can save money by using a special audio file encoded with instructions to generate any spoken phrase, rather than hiring voice actors to record the same phrase in multiple languages. Voice overs and audio books are also a large market place. As speech synthesis technology becomes more refined and natural sounding, it provides a way to simplify and reduce the cost of translation and production for foreign language audio books.

Being a relatively nascent technology, Aylien discusses the importance of speech synthesis (text to speech) in today’s world. They hail it as a significant technological innovation for people with disabilities limiting their ability to read written text. It is a tool of monumental importance for blind people. Not only does it aid them in realizing the content of a website or piece of text, but it also gives them increased access abilities. For example, someone trying to learn a foreign language can use AI text-to-speech to hear the pronunciation of each word and phrase to confirm correctness.

4. Challenges and Future Developments

Human psychology adds further challenges to TTS development. One of these is the “uncanny valley effect,” the name for a phenomenon where a replica of a human that appears almost, but not exactly, like a real human can cause strong revulsion in the viewer. Mori (1975) states that if an entity is nonhumanoid, it will afford empathy to the degree that its structure emulates the human structure. If the resemblance is not near perfect, the result is a feeling of strangeness. TTS systems that utilize recorded speech typically achieve this near perfect emulation and can therefore cause a subconscious discomfort or distrust in the authenticity of synthetic speech. Humans communicate using more than just words spoken; it is a complex audio-visual-multimodal-multisensory process, conveying literal and latent meaning. The TTS must overcome the lack of prosodic elements used in human spoken language and develop a unified TTS for all languages. This includes conveying stress, intonation, and rhythm to best emulate the more complicated aspects of spoken language. Finally, there needs to be a high level of appropriate context awareness and in some cases background knowledge of world and cultural affairs. This is to ensure global TTS systems like a future “spoken web” can make appropriate speech in any situation and to any listener, without offending or confusing. This will be a highly difficult task, considering the complexity of a TTS being able to understand and emulate a dynamic social system with various subgroups, roles, and diverse contextual understanding. This is important as AI-based TTS will continue to develop more interactive oral communication systems, such as talking to an AI system and receiving language tutorial from a TTS.

5. Conclusion

From the foregoing, we could see the growth of AI from its almost being forgotten in the early 90s to a very recent rapid development. We have seen lots of AI developments in our real world. It has managed to change our way of living and it has become a part of our life. This AI technology is expected to grow even more rapidly in the future. It may reach the point where AI could be aware of itself and improving its ability by learning by itself, or AI might be the one creating another AI which could solve specific problems that humans currently have. This AI technology development should be seen as a good opportunity to improve our life even further, but in the hands of irresponsible people, it could become a weapon that could cause trouble to the world, so the decision is in our hands. Let’s hope that AI will bring a bright future for the world. This text-to-speech technology is just another small part of AI, but it has a large impact for its users. TTS technology has experienced lots of improvements from the old days until now, where the computer could generate a voice that is barely distinguishable from a real human voice in a natural conversation. In the future, TTS could be more humane-like and could convey complex emotions into its voice. This technology has the potential to help people with disabilities to easily understand information from the internet using natural speech in their native language. AI TTS also could be a language learning teacher for those who want to learn a new language.