In late 2013, the Spike Jonze film Her imagined a future where people would form emotional connections with AI voice assistants. Nearly 12 years later, that fictional premise has veered closer to reality with the release of a new conversational voice model from AI startup Sesame that has left many users both fascinated and unnerved.
It feels weird, like maybe over-practiced, but I agree that it sounds human enough to fool me.
It feels reminiscent of the way narrators used to do books on tape. Modern ones are better imho, but all the pausing and intonation definitely seems “professional” more than conversational. Still extremely good.
I listened to an audiobook by Levar Burton a few days ago, and this sounds similar enough to his pattern of speech during the intro that I wouldn’t have known there was anything unusual about the AI voice. If I’d heard it read a book, I would have just assumed that the pauses were a style choice.
Yeah, it sounds like it was recorded in a recording studio, but not like it’s a robot. Very creepy.
Oh! Interesting! So for you this is in the uncanny valley?
I’m on the fence about that.
No, I think it sounds very normal, I just think the idea that I can no longer distinguish between fake and real voices creepy.