The news: Audiobook sales are projected to surpass $35B annually by 2030, with AI playing an increasingly bigger role in production. Why it matters: AI technology is already replacing human narrators in audiobooks, as seen in new offerings from Google Play and Apple Books. However, challenges remain in areas such as delivery, timing, and pronunciation. For its digital narration, Apple combines advanced speech synthesis AI with the expertise of audio engineers, quality control specialists, and linguists. Presently, Amazon's Audible has an audiobook recording service but mandates that they be narrated by humans. The bigger picture: The decision to use AI voices in audiobook production still depends on cost, time, and listener preferences. Voice actors have different views on AI's impact on their profession, with some believing AI can't match human voices' nuances and emotions, while others see it as a useful tool for licensing their cloned voices. What the numbers say: With the rise of smartphones, the audiobook industry has already experienced a decade of significant growth. According to Wordsrated, audiobook sales are projected to grow at an impressive 26.4% annually from 2022 to 2030, making it the world's fastest-growing book format, with AI's role in audiobook production likely to expand significantly.
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