2023-09-25 16:06:45
Publication date: September 25, 2023 68 Spotify is testing a way for podcasters to reach listeners in different languages, through its AI podcast translation feature, which translates podcasts into additional languages in the voice of the podcaster. As part of the pilot, Spotify worked with a select group of podcasters to create AI-powered translations in other languages, including Spanish, French and German, for a few episodes. The tool, developed by Spotify, uses OpenAI’s previously released Whisper audio generation technology to match a native speaker’s style. OpenAI technology can transcribe English speech and translate other languages into English, although Spotify’s tool goes beyond just translating speech into text, as the feature translates audio broadcasts into a different language and reproduces it in a composite version of the podcasters’ voice. This results in a more realistic listening experience that sounds more personal and natural than traditional dubbing. Translated episodes from creators in Spotify beta are available worldwide on the platform. Topics related to what you are reading now: These episodes will begin rolling out to users starting today, Monday, September 25, in the “Now Playing” show, initially in Spanish, with French and German translations being released in the coming weeks. The platform said in a statement: “By matching the creator’s voice, transliteration gives listeners around the world the ability to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way. “We believe that a thoughtful approach to AI helps build deeper connections between listeners and creators, which is a key component of our mission to empower human creativity.” The platform currently reports that it has over 100 million podcast listeners globally and over 5 million podcast titles available in over 170 markets. The company was the top US podcast network in terms of reach from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. In June 2023, the company reorganized the broadcast group, laying off 200 employees. “The company is focusing more on partnerships with leading podcasters from around the world,” Sahar Al-Habashi, vice president and head of podcasting at Spotify, said in a memo to employees. The company continues to curate a collection of original works, with recent and upcoming releases.
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