Voice cloning has entered the chat

AI CLONING

Voice cloning has entered the chat

In 2016, Hammad Syed and Mahmoud Felfel, a former WhatsApp engineer, created a Chrome extension that read Medium articles aloud.

It quickly gained attention on Product Hunt and, by the following year, had evolved into PlayAI (formerly PlayHT), a company offering advanced text-to-speech and voice cloning technology.

PlayAI lets users choose from pre-set voices or create their own voice clones.

Voices can be customised by adjusting their tone, pace, and style.

The platform includes tools like a “playground” for creating narrations, an API for app integrations, and AI agents that automate tasks like answering customer calls.

One standout feature, PlayNote, converts files like PDFs and videos into podcasts or summaries, making content more accessible.

In brief:

• PlayAI provides voice cloning, text-to-speech tools, and creative content transformation options.

• Weak safeguards raise risks of misuse, scams, and unauthorised voice cloning.

• With $21 million raised, PlayAI is focusing on improving its technology and growing its team.

Clone it, own it?

The voice cloning tool uses PlayDialog, a model designed to sound natural by understanding the context of conversations.

However, enforcement of safeguards has been criticised.

Users can clone voices by simply ticking a consent box, and there have been instances of unauthorised cloning.

Legal and ethical concerns add to the challenges.

Voice actors worry their work could be replaced, and platforms like PlayAI face growing scrutiny.

In California, laws now require clear consent and transparency when using voice clones, increasing pressure for responsible use.

Despite these issues, PlayAI continues to grow.

It recently raised $20 million in funding, which will be used to improve its tools, expand its workforce, and help businesses adopt its technology faster.

PlayAI is basically Siri’s cooler sibling.