Just as I prepared to write my blog post, Amazon dropped a bombshell on the author world. It’s “beta testing” the creation and sale of computer-narrated audiobooks on Audible.
Why is it a bombshell? Audible is one of the world’s biggest audiobook platforms. Up until now, it’s insisted that only human-narrated audiobooks can be sold there.
This meant that if authors and publishers want to sell audiobooks in this big marketplace, they had to hire narrators or, as many authors have done, narrate the books themselves.
Producing an audiobook can be very expensive.
Professional narrators charge hundreds of dollars per finished hour of an audiobook. Those fees are justified because narrating a book is hard work. I know, because I’m in the process of recording my own audiobooks. Professionals, working at maximum efficiency, can take two to five hours of work to create each completed hour of an audiobook. Those still learning their craft might take much longer. I’ve been at it for months.
And narrating is physically and mentally exhausting. It’s not the kind of thing you can do for many hours at a time. Breaks are necessary because the human voice needs rest, and your mind also needs time off from concentrating on interpreting the text with the right inflections and emotions. Plus, of course, the inevitable bloopers that make multiple “takes” and editing necessary.
Narrators earn every cent of their fee. They deserve to be paid for their hard work. But this means many authors have not been able to get their books in audio.
But, out of the blue, the announcement came. Amazon is seriously considering this system where an audiobook can be created at no cost to authors, within 72 hours.
Amazon didn’t just change the goalposts. They swapped out the entire playing field and gave every player their own ball.
If this moves beyond the beta stage and Amazon rolls it out to everyone, the immediate “losers” appear to be narrators whose livelihood depends on producing audiobooks for sale. Authors on a tight budget might now decide not to use human narrators at all.
The “winners” might be authors who could not afford to get their books into audio. And, since it appears AI-narrated audiobooks might be a lot cheaper than human-narrated ones, readers might count themselves as “winners,” too.
But is it that simple? Will readers embrace AI audio?
A few months ago, there was a lot of talk among author circles of an AI audiobook narration tool. Curious about how good it was, I decided to test it. I uploaded a dialogue-heavy excerpt of one of my books. It included the hero and heroine having an emotionally charged argument, where their relationship was at stake. The results were shockingly good. I couldn’t tell it wasn’t a human narrator. It was, quite frankly, scary.
Granted, the excerpt I used didn’t include unusual place names or names of people, or any unusual phrasing. I imagine that AI might struggle with things like that.
Are we, is humanity, is art, losing something when we depend on artificial intelligence to create for us? Or is it no different from when a machine washes our laundry or our dishes instead of us having to do it by hand?
Beyond the question of quality and philosophical concerns, there are also issues with intellectual property. These AI narrators didn’t spring out of pure binary code. They’re based on human voices. Are the original voice actors aware that their voices are being used in this way? Did they give consent, knowing that, down the road, they might impact their own ability to find work because they sound exactly like the “AI”?
I’m not sure how I feel about all of this, and writing this post is part of my way of processing my thoughts.
Artificial intelligence is already rocking the creative world with tools that create incredibly good visual artwork and others that “write” portions of text. Delving into all that would make this post far too long, and I’m not sure I can intelligently lay out the issues involved.
So, I’ll stick to the audiobook question. Would you buy an AI-narrated Christian romance audiobook? Why or why not?
I write fiction that reflects my Christian faith. I love happy endings, heroes and heroines who discover sometimes hard but always vital truths, and stories that uplift and encourage. My family and I live in the east of England where we enjoy rambling in the countryside, reading good books and making up silly lyrics to our favorite songs.
Thank you for blogging about AI book narration. I’m not sure where I stand on the use of AI yet. There are pros and cons, but it scares me to think about how much we might become dependent on AI and lose the ability to think and do for ourselves. Just like any tool, AI can be used for good or evil. Would I buy an AI narrated romance novel? Maybe, maybe not.
I’m still making up my mind as well, Beth. I’ve played with a few tools, but am conscious of the wider implications.
Because of the cost, I seriously considered using Google Books to create AI generated audiobooks a year or two ago. However, when I plugged one of my books in to listen, there was something off about how it read a line on the first page. I realized I’d have to listen to the entire book and do what I could to smooth out the reading (I’m not sure about Amazon, but Google allows you to make modifications to the text the AI narration uses, so you could potentially change some things that don’t read quite right). Also, at the time, Amazon didn’t allow AI narration. So, like you, I narrated my own audiobook. I hope readers like hearing the story in the author’s own voice, even if I’m not a professional voice actor. Thankfully, I don’t give characters accents, or I’d have a real problem!! Narrating is a LOT of work, but it’s also fun, and I think I’ll get faster at it, the more I work on it!
Ooh, I didn’t know you narrated your own audiobooks! We’ll have to compare notes, ha ha. I do enjoy it, but find it exhausting. I’m also relying on what others say about getting quicker with practice.
Hi Emily. I agree with your assessment- I believe readers appreciate audio books with the author as narrator. As a retired high school English teacher, I used audio books in the classroom. The book the students related to the most was Lord of the Flies, narrated by William Golding himself. Every year when I listened to his narration I learned something new. I belong to a monthly library sponsored book club. Many participants listen to the audio book. Most prefer when the author does the narration. Since we each state our opinion on the book selection – one of the recent books the audio book was criticized, even though many of us liked the book in general. Keep up the good work.
I don’t buy audiobooks now, as I much prefer to “read” it in the voice I hear in my head. I’m not crazy about AI, anyway, as I’ve heard news reports on AI that are actually frightening, if AI is used in the wrong way. And, heaven only knows if people can find a way to use for wrong, they will!!
Hi Milla! Thanks for an informative and thought provoking blog. As a retired educator, AI definitely raises concerns on multiple levels. As a mother and grandmother, I worry how this will all affect people’s thought process. I am old school – have journals, wall calendars, make lists (to do, grocery, etc). My middle son does everything with Alexa – turn on lights, set timers, grocery lists, etc. While I understand people listening to audio books, I value my eyesight and prefer to engage my mind in reading and highlighting ideas and thoughts in my books. Read mainly e-books, except for book club. AI reminds me of Fahrenheit 400 and other futuristic books. What will become of the human mind? Best wishes.
I’m so undecided about embracing AI. Simply because I know it’s coming even if I don’t. I don’t like it, the idea of it, the source of it. But the world is changing and I must change with it or be left behind. I don’t like to listen to AI. I have favorite voice artists on Audible and sometimes I’ll buy a book by an author I’ve never heard of just for the narrator.
Hi Trudy! Agreed. History proves it. Today is the 34, anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall! In today’s world the news is already biased, works are plagiarized. Now add AI. Definitely frightening in today’s divided political climate and global unrest. Will we be able to tell the difference in the written or verbal world. Who receives create? Much to think and pray about.
I know, Trudy! Unfortunately, as the Bible tells us, the human heart is desperately wicked and can turn any tool toward evil.
I also have a voice in my head when I read. Apparently, not everyone does, as I was very surprised to learn.
Thanks for your comments, Renate. These are thoughts that occupy my mind as well, as I consider how my children learn and think and process information. I’m trying very hard not to let fear steer my thoughts, although that’s my first instinct.
It’s impacting the industry in so many different ways, isn’t it? I’ve played with some tools just to see what they’re all about, but am still not sure what I think about it all.
Spot on, Renate. We will need to be very discerning. Indeed, there’s much to pray about.
Short answer – nope.
Long answer – I don’t even like videos done using AI narration, and I have been able to nail them down every time because the human factor is always missing. The heart isn’t there, no matter how well they try to modulate the voice. Ends up being creepy sounding.
Woah…
My immediate thought? Now, I can afford to publish my book as an audiobook. (I’ve had people complain that it still needs to be in that format.) My instant counter thought? Where does that leave narrators and, ultimately, us? Because I’m waiting for the day when AI-generated books are an actual thing, and it scares me. Right now, if you play around with ChatGPT, it produces wordy, flowery, downright laughable paragraphs. But for how much longer?
So, even though that means I could afford to publish my books in audio, I prefer Amazon not go this route.
Thank you for your thoughtful blog, and please keep us updated as you learn more.
Buying IA narration? I don’t think so!
But I do listen to free IA CCR on YouTube.
I’ve loved audio books – first and foremost the Bible, from cassette tapes read by Alexander Scourby, to the audio Bibles in the YouVersion Bible App to Audible CCR and Historical CRs, many of which were a beautiful gift given to me either by authors or narrators.
Nothing is better than a narrator, but since you can listen to AI on the road, while walking, doing housework, working out, etc., you (I) get more books “read” by listening to them than reading them.
Hi Milla! I don’t listen to audio books. I don’t really know why unless it’s just because I don’t hear well. And I am definitely against AI. I’m sure there are advantages to it. I want to be able to use my God given capabilities.
Your blog was very thought provoking. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment, Dawn. Many AI narrators are easy to spot, for sure.
I know what you mean, Jennifer. I’ve poked around with ChatGPT to research things like “what personality type wants to be in charge and hates losing” and the like, which is where I think it’s a good tool. Although you do need to crosscheck the information because sometimes it spouts nonsense.
I think AI generated books are already a thing, although, like you said, they’re still so bad that they’re easy to spot. But they will get better. The only thing we can do is continue to hone our craft and our unique voices.
And I also hear you about how AI could make audiobooks accessible for many authors who would otherwise never be able to make them. Especially since it can take so long to earn back the investment.
That’s exactly why I like audiobooks, Anke. They allow me to “read” while I’m doing other work. I’ve loved them since I got my first Winnie the Pooh book on tape when I was eight years old. There’s no way an AI narrator could have brought that particular book to life!
Thanks, Bonnie. There are so many sides to the AI question, and the technology is developing so fast that it’s hard to keep up with the implications. I’m grateful to read everyone’s responses, because AI is not going away and we need to figure out how or if we’re going to use it.
My Front Porch Promises series is available in AI audio on Apple.
Thanks, Merrillee. Are you happy with the result? I think Apple were among the first of the retailers to make AI audiobooks available.
This I really interesting! I love audio books, I don’t know how I feel about an AI narrator though. I have never listened to any AI narrated books and I wonder if I would be able to tell? There’s something about it I instinctively find a bit off putting, but maybe I’m being a bit prejudiced. It took me a long time to get into ebooks and now I read them a lot, so I won’t say never, but I’m definitely on the fence at the moment.
There’s apparently room for lots of us on the fence, Ruthie! I didn’t think AI could narrate without sounding robotic until I listened to those samples I mentioned. It’s become insanely good and sooner than we think, quality will not be the deciding factor. We’ll have to make decisions on AI based on the ethics and the philosophy of the issue.
No. God created human beings, not AI. I feel that AI is a scary situation that can replace people.
its interesting as part of the actors strike was AI. With AI they can record an extra doing things in one day and use this for the whole filming meaning many of the people who work as extras and just needed for one day or a short time and AI will do the rest.
With the Audio books this could very much be the same those doing the work now could be replaced and lose jobs. I could see if AI audio books take off I wonder how long it would be til all authors would use it because its cheaper and then those narrating are out of a job.
Then if this happens I guess the costs should come down.
I don’t actually read audio books but I know many do.
I guess. I’m not an audio book person, so I can’t tell if it’s a good narration or not. It sounds quite real to me, but someone who listens to audiobooks all the time may not agree.
Thanks for your comment, Debra. Fear is my first instinct, but I’m wondering whether it’s influencing my opinion.
Those are exactly the things I’m wondering, too, Jenny. Thanks for your comment.
I don’t often listen to audio books, but NO!
Apart from the fact that people will be out of a job, there is also the issue that the voice will not sound like a person reading it, and the pronunciation will only be as good as the data available to the AI generator, which is not always correct.
It actually takes people a lot of time and searching to find the correct pronunciation of words, particularly words that are colloquial, and they are paid barely anything for the time they actually spend.
Thanks for your reply, Merrillee. Audiobook listeners are a mixed bag. Some are very picky about narrators, and others don’t mind at all as long as they can hear what’s being said.
Those are concerns I also have, Beth. Thanks for your comment. I know some writers are actually changing their writing style so it will be easier for AI to narrate. They’re stripping out regional phrases and colloqualisms and using simpler names. It does give me pause as I think of how that affects literature as a whole.
I haven’t tried listening to an AI narrated audio book yet, but in general I have serious reservations about AI and all the ways it is being used. I fear that it is a very slippery slope that we are starting down.
I haven’t listened to a complete AI audiobook, either. Only samples. I definitely hear you about the concerns around AI.
I would never support anything to do with art in any form that has the use of AI for even one step of the process.
Thanks for your comment, Abigail. You’re not alone with those convictions.
No, I wouldn’t purchase one. It seems like another example of large corporations prioritising money over the dignity and value of people’s work.
Those are valid concerns, Dianne. Thanks for your comment.
I already don’t listen to audio books bcz my reading speed is so fast that they can’t keep up with it. But a computer voice reading to me is something that I am not interested in at all, it’s way too impersonal for me. I want real people if I choose to listen to a book, not a computer.
I definitely see your point, Cindi! I only listen to audiobooks while I’m doing chores or exercising. When I’m curled up on my recliner, I want to read with my eyes.
I am a few days late in commenting on this, but have just in the past year or so gotten into listening to audiobooks. There is an author who loads her books to YouTube for free. But they have a ‘professional’ narrator I believe, and I enjoy them. So after that I heard of another author who had their books on YouTube, so I went to check them out… The voice sounded like it wasn’t a real person. The inflections and such just were not right, so maybe it was an artificially generated voice… I listened to very little of it, because I just couldn’t take it!
Thanks for your comment, Patty. Those weird inflections get on my nerves, too!