OpenAI has entered the voice assistant market with Voice Engine, its newest invention. Using just 15 seconds of recorded speech from the subject, this state-of-the-art technology can accurately mimic an individual's voice.
The company's introduction of Voice Engine, which hints at its intention to advance voice-related technology, follows the submission of a trademark application for the moniker.
OpenAI has chosen to restrict Voice Engine's availability to a small number of early testers for the time being, citing worries over potential abuse and the accompanying risks, despite the technology's potentially revolutionary potential.
OpenAI Unveils Voice Engine
Leading San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup OpenAI has noticed the serious risks of being able to imitate human speech, especially in delicate situations like elections. The possible abuse of AI-generated voices in robocalls that impersonate political officials is one of the recent instances that has raised worries.
It has been said that the business is going to provide early testers with a preview of its most recent invention, which is called Voice Engine. However, the company is not releasing the product to the general public at this time because of the risks associated with its abuse.
OpenAI issued a statement in which it stressed the significance of carrying out the deployment of voice replication technology in a responsible manner, particularly during an election year.
Authorities in New Hampshire are currently investigating robocalls sent to thousands of voters just before the presidential primary, which featured an AI-generated voice mimicking President Joe Biden.
This incident underscores the urgency of implementing safeguards to prevent the misuse of synthetic voices for malicious purposes.
Recognizing the gravity of these issues, OpenAI is taking a cautious approach to the broader release of Voice Engine. The company is engaging with various stakeholders, including government agencies, media outlets, and civil society organizations, to incorporate their feedback into its development process, according to Outlook.
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OpenAI's Precautions Against AI Voice Misuse
The decision to limit the release of Voice Engine follows concerns raised by disinformation researchers about the potential for widespread misuse of AI-powered voice cloning tools in pivotal election years. These tools are becoming increasingly accessible and difficult to trace, posing significant challenges for combating misinformation campaigns.
The cautious unveiling of Voice Engine comes in the wake of a controversial incident involving a robocall impersonating President Biden during the New Hampshire primary. The call, which was traced back to a political consultant working for a Democratic rival's campaign, raised alarms among experts about the potential for AI-powered deepfake disinformation to influence elections.
OpenAI has developed a set of safety precautions for Voice Engine testers to address these issues. These precautions consist of informing people whose voices are replicated by the technology and getting their express and informed consent before employing AI-generated voices, as well as making it obvious when they are.
In addition, OpenAI is continually monitoring its use to stop abuse and has deployed watermarking technology to track the source of every audio produced by Voice Engine, NBC Right Now reported.
