How Artificial Intelligence Shapes Voice-Over Projects?

Artificial intelligence has influenced the way companies operate their businesses, whether they are in the e-commerce, retail, or manufacturing sector. In 2018, Chinese tech giant Alibaba launched their Fashion AI concept store to simplify customers’ shopping experience. In the manufacturing sector, early adopters of AI experienced one of its advantages — it provides forecasts on equipment failures, resulting in reduced downtimes. Artificial intelligence is also transforming the language industry, such as translation. For example, AI is already integrated into some CAT tools, which professional translators use. It provides predictive typing functions and vocabulary suggestions based on the previously translated content. With that being said, translators can capitalize both human translation efforts and machine output. There are other developments as well that will shape voiceover projects in the future.

AI Humanizes Voice-Tech in Gaming Development

Text-to-speech voices powered by machine learning don’t sound robotic and monotonous anymore. While they can’t mimic human voice 100 percent, they still sound great when narrating audios. These are also common in mobile games as characters speak to each other and engage with the gamer, providing an immersive gaming experience. Furthermore, AI brings life to characters with voiceovers. Sonantic claims they are the first company to produce artificial intelligence voice models where the audio sound like genuine human voices — capable of expressing emotions. For example, early adopters like gaming developers Obsidian Entertainment use computer-generated voices to make the characters more authentic and life-like and engaging.

AI Creates More Opportunities for Voice Actors

Hiring voiceover actors is costly since you pay for the talent, skills, and years of experience. In short, real actors’ voiceovers are the gold standard in the industry. But with deep learning algorithms, production companies can augment the data from the recorded voices and create voice models. Voice talents don’t need to record in real-time because some AI technology is already trained to match any voice style. They can record in a few hours even if the texts are not related to any client, but the production companies that edit and manage these voice models will take charge of the movie and game. So, what’s in it for voiceover talents? For one, some companies offer a profit-sharing model. This means that whenever the voice models of that actor are used, they are paid. It creates a passive income for them, which is in stark contrast to traditional voiceover. They only get paid once after the project is finished.

AI Gives an Advantages to Vendors, Cutting the Cost and Diversifying Services

AI cuts the costs on voiceover projects, giving translation companies opportunities to diversify the services they offer. However, this does not mean that AI voiceovers will replace human voiceovers now. Such AI voice technologies and ventures are still in their infancy, and they are not for everyone. But companies, regardless of the industry, should have an open mind on how they can capitalize on this alternative. You can’t overlook AI’s ability to cut costs and lead time, not to mention the efficiency it offers for both vendors and buyers. AI offers more flexibility than the traditional way of hiring voiceover talents because it can accommodate multiple languages. One can create audios from any of these languages and translate them to the desired target language.

Should You Use AI Voice-Overs in Business?

AI looks promising in the voiceover projects. However, it’s too early to tell its operability in real-time, primarily if you target the Chinese language. Early adopters in the gaming sector are in the exploring and experimental stages, so if you are in this industry, there’s something to look forward to in the future. There’s nothing to lose for other industries as you explore the possibilities of AI-enabled voiceovers in Chinese. Overall, artificial intelligence is here, and it’s up to you — the entrepreneur — how you can leverage this development.