OpenAI is stepping into the voice assistant arena with its newly unveiled Voice Engine, a cutting-edge technology capable of cloning a person's voice using just 15 seconds of audio recording. This move marks a significant expansion for the AI powerhouse, best known for its chatbot and image-generation tool, DALL-E.
Despite the impressive capabilities of the Voice Engine, OpenAI has decided not to release the technology to the public just yet. Citing safety concerns, the company emphasized the potential risks associated with misuse, especially in an election year. \"We recognize that generating speech that resembles people's voices has serious risks, which are especially top of mind in an election year,\" OpenAI stated.
The decision follows recent incidents where AI-generated voices have been used maliciously. In New Hampshire, authorities are investigating a series of robocalls sent to thousands of voters prior to the presidential primary, which featured a voice mimicking President Joe Biden.
While several startups are already offering voice-cloning services to the public and select business clients like entertainment studios, OpenAI is taking a more cautious approach. Early testers of the Voice Engine have agreed to strict guidelines, including refraining from impersonating individuals without consent and clearly disclosing that the voices are AI-generated.
Looking ahead, OpenAI's Voice Engine could position the company as a competitor to established voice products such as Amazon's Alexa. A trademark application filed on March 19 suggests that OpenAI is serious about advancing its speech recognition and digital voice assistant technologies. This strategic move could open new avenues for innovation and competition in the rapidly evolving voice technology landscape.
OpenAI's cautious rollout strategy mirrors its approach with prior technologies, ensuring that advancements are balanced with responsible use and ethical considerations.
Reference(s):
OpenAI unveils Voice Engine, without releasing risky AI clone tech
cgtn.com
