OpenAI, a renowned artificial intelligence company, has entered the voice assistant industry by introducing new technology that can replicate a person’s voice. This technology, known as Voice Engine, is capable of mimicking a person’s voice with only 15 seconds of recorded speech. Despite this impressive feat, OpenAI has chosen not to publicly release the technology yet due to concerns about its potential misuse.
In a statement, OpenAI acknowledged the serious risks associated with generating speech that closely resembles real voices, particularly in light of ongoing events such as elections. The decision to withhold the technology’s release comes in the wake of instances like robocalls sent to voters in New Hampshire before a presidential primary. These calls featured an AI-generated voice impersonating President Joe Biden, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. However, various startups already offer voice-cloning technology, with some accessible to the public or select business customers like entertainment studios.
Early testers of Voice Engine have agreed to use the technology responsibly, refraining from impersonating individuals without their consent and disclosing that the voices are AI-generated. This responsible approach aligns with OpenAI’s previous strategy with products like the video-generator Sora, which was announced but not widely released. Despite keeping Voice Engine limited in availability at this time, a trademark application filed in March suggests that OpenAI is positioning itself to delve further into speech recognition and digital voice assistant technologies. By enhancing these capabilities, OpenAI aims to compete with established players like Amazon’s Alexa in the future. Stay updated on the latest AI developments by subscribing to the Eye on AI newsletter for free.
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