This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to The Verge.

Apple describes the new “digital storytelling” feature on its website by “making audiobook creation more accessible to everyone,” lowering the cost and simplifying the process for authors and publishers.

As noted, “digital storytelling” has the potential to allow smaller publishers and authors to produce audiobooks at a lower cost.

So far, the voice-over feature is only available for two digital audio novels and fiction – Madison and Jackson. Two more voices will be available later – Helena and Mitchell, who will be voicing the non-fiction. The service is currently only available in English.

If a user searches for “AI Narrative” in the Books app on iOS, they’ll find a series of romance novels labeled “voiceover Apple Books.” It also lists the custom name of the AI ​​narrator used.

Both paid and free audiobooks are available in the listings.

It is stated that the publishers and authors hold the rights of the audiobooks and can publish other versions of the audiobooks if they wish.

The publication writes that Apple’s approach is the opposite of that of rival Amazon, whose rules state that audiobooks submitted directly “must be voiced by a person.” Amazon’s Kindle used to offer text-to-speech, but that app was discontinued a decade ago after copyright issues arose.

Photo: apple