Voice Engine, the new technology developed by OpenAI, is set to revolutionize the voice assistant industry. The technology can replicate a person’s voice with just 15 seconds of recorded speech, although it is currently not being released to the public due to safety concerns.
OpenAI has taken a cautious approach with their Voice Engine, only previewing the technology with early testers for now. The decision to withhold the technology from wider release is due to the potential risks of misuse that come with creating speech that closely resembles someone’s voice.
The company has learned from a recent incident in New Hampshire where AI-generated robocalls imitated President Joe Biden’s voice. This experience has made them aware of the serious implications of such technology, especially during an election year.
While there are already companies selling voice-cloning technology, OpenAI is taking a different approach with their Voice Engine. Testers have agreed not to impersonate individuals without consent and to disclose that the voices are generated by AI. This responsible approach is similar to how OpenAI handled the release of their video-generator, Sora.
OpenAI has filed for a trademark for Voice Engine, which suggests that they are planning on developing speech recognition and digital voice assistant technologies in the future. This move could potentially challenge existing voice products like Amazon’s Alexa and pose a threat to other companies in this space.
As part of their partnership with the Associated Press (AP), OpenAI has access to AP’s text archives. This has allowed them to continue developing cutting-edge technologies while respecting ethical considerations surrounding voice cloning and other AI innovations.
Overall, OpenAI’s entry into the voice assistant industry represents an exciting new development in AI technology, but also raises important ethical questions about its use and potential consequences. It will be interesting to see how this technology evolves over time and what impact it will have on society as a whole.
