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Spotify has launched an AI system that translates popular podcasts into multiple languages while retaining the voices of top hosts or podcasters. Photo/Alternativeto
LONDON – Spotify has launched an AI system that translates popular podcasts into various languages while retaining the voices of top hosts or podcasters. The translation feature can transcribe English and other languages into English, by cloning the speaker’s voice.
As part of the trial, the music streaming giant slowly rolled out the new feature with a small group of podcasters and translated it into Spanish. Dax Shepard, with his wife Kristen Bell, has created his podcast, Armchair Expert, using AI translation.
Spotify has also used this technology on Monica Padman, Lex Fridman, The Bill Simmons Podcast, and Dragons’ Den maestro Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO. The company has plans to expand the group to include The Ringer and Trevor Noah’s ‘The Rewatchables’.
As part of the trials, the company claims the translated version will mimic the speaker’s original style, and will be more natural than traditional dubbing. While Spanish is currently the only language available, French and German will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
All translated episodes will be available to all premium and free Spotify users starting September 25. The music streaming platform has also created a Voice Translation Hub, which will be updated as more content is added to the program.
Ziad Sultan, VP of Personalization, said by matching the voices of creators, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters. Of course, while remaining more authentic than before.
“We believe that a thoughtful AI approach can help build deeper relationships between listeners and creators. “This is a key component of Spotify’s mission to unlock human creative potential,” he said, quoted by SINDOnews from the Daily Mail page, Tuesday (26/9/2023).
Spotify developed the feature using Microsoft-backed OpenAI voice transcription tool Whisper. There is also a dedicated Voice Translation Hub, which will update with each episode as it is translated.
This is the Swedish company’s latest move to increase revenue. Spotify has invested heavily in its podcast business, hoping the move will bring in more advertisers.
Earlier this year, the music streaming platform raised the price of its ad-free premium service in more than 50 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland.
(wib)