Ars Technica
A voice synthesis firm primarily based in Dubai printed a fictional podcast interview between Joe Rogan and Steve Jobs utilizing reasonable voices digitally cloned from each males. It takes place through the “first episode” of a purported podcast collection referred to as “Podcast.ai,” created by Play.ht, which sells voice synthesis companies.
Within the interview, you first hear a replication of Rogan’s voice created by voice cloning know-how just like that which we have covered before on Ars. Deep studying know-how has allowed AI fashions to duplicate distinctive voices with a excessive diploma of accuracy, resembling within the case of Darth Vader in Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi TV collection.
To realize the impact, somebody should first practice the AI mannequin on current samples of the voice that shall be cloned. Rogan is a first-rate goal for AI voice coaching by deep studying fashions as a result of ample portions of his remoted voice exist on his podcasts. Actually, The Verge covered a PR stunt by an AI firm referred to as Dessa synthesizing Rogan in 2019.
The place this occasion of AI tomfoolery turns into extra fascinating is that Play.ht moreover roped within the voice of deceased Apple CEO Steve Jobs. His voice, whereas robotically uneven at instances, remembers his Apple keynotes and All Issues Digital interviews from the late 2000s. And Play.ht claims that the textual content of the interview was generated by AI as properly, presumably from a big language mannequin (LLM) just like GPT-3.
“Transcripts are generated with fine-tuned language fashions,” writes Play.ht on the Podcast.ai web site. “For instance, the Steve Jobs episode was skilled on his biography and all recordings of him we might discover on-line so the AI might precisely deliver him again to life.”
In line with its LLM roots, the 19-minute interview does not make a lot sense. After some time, components of the fictional interview start to sound like conceptual mashups of widespread Jobs speaking factors, together with aesthetics, revolutionary merchandise, opponents resembling Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, and the triumphs of the unique Macintosh.
For instance, throughout a piece of the interview, faux Jobs delves into criticism of Microsoft that may be very comparable the what the true Jobs mentioned in a famous 1995 interview for Triumph of the Nerds, however it’s not a carbon copy—and you’ll inform the voice is synthesized when you evaluate the 2. “That is the issue I’ve all the time had with Microsoft,” faux Jobs says. “In some ways they’re good individuals they usually’ve completed good work, however they’ve by no means had any style. They’ve by no means had any aesthetic sense.”
Whether or not it is authorized to make use of Jobs’ or Rogan’s vocal likenesses on this method—notably to advertise a industrial product—stays to be seen. And regardless of the PR-stunt nature of the podcast, the idea of completely fictional superstar podcasts obtained our consideration. As voice synthesis turns into more widespread and doubtlessly undetectable, we’re taking a look at a future the place media artifacts from any period will seemingly be fully fluid and malleable, shapeable to suit any narrative. On this explicit fictional world, Jobs is a big Rogan fan.
“It is good to sit down again within the automotive and take heed to you rant,” he says.
