Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook platform, has announced it will begin using artificial intelligence to narrate audiobooks, signaling a major transformation in how audio content is produced and distributed. The company will offer publishers and authors the option to use AI-generated voices to produce audiobooks, alongside its existing catalog of human-narrated content.
This move follows a growing trend in the publishing industry to adopt generative AI tools for content creation and localization. According to Audible, the decision is aimed at expanding access to audiobook production, especially for authors and publishers who might not have the resources to invest in traditional narration.
The new tools include both a fully managed production service and a self-service option that allows users to select from more than 100 synthetic voices in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Audible CEO Bob Carrigan described the initiative as part of the company’s mission to make “every book in every language” available in audio form. He emphasized that AI voices will be used primarily for titles that might not otherwise be produced as audiobooks, rather than replacing human narrators for high-profile or performance-driven content.
The use of synthetic voices has already begun through Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon’s self-publishing platform, where an invite-only beta launched in 2023 allowed authors to create audiobooks with AI narration. Since then, more than 60,000 AI-narrated titles have been added to Audible’s library. Publishers will also soon be able to access AI-powered translation tools, enabling English-language audiobooks to be automatically converted into French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
Industry reaction to the announcement has been mixed. Many independent authors and small publishers have welcomed the move as a cost-effective way to reach new audiences. However, professional voice actors and audiobook narrators have expressed concern about the implications for their craft and livelihood. Critics argue that AI-generated narration lacks the emotional nuance and interpretive skill that human performers bring to audiobook storytelling.
The Guardian reports that actors’ unions and advocacy groups have raised alarms over the potential displacement of human talent. SAG-AFTRA, which represents many audiobook narrators, has issued guidelines requiring consent and fair compensation when actors’ voices are used in AI applications. The union continues to push for transparency around the use of synthetic voices, calling for clear labeling so that consumers know whether they are listening to a human or a machine.
While Audible maintains that the technology will not replace human narrators, the broader implications of AI in the audiobook industry remain uncertain. The company’s push into synthetic narration reflects a larger shift in publishing and media, where AI is being adopted to automate and accelerate content production.
