How to access thousands of free audiobooks, thanks to Microsoft AI and Project Gutenberg
www.zdnet.com
Available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms, the free audiobooks use neural text-to-speech technology to read to you in a human-sounding voice.

Would you recommend I listen to any of the books?

https://marhamilresearch4.blob.core.windows.net/gutenberg-public/Website/browse.html

  • Isoprenoid@programming.dev
    ·
    9 months ago

    The AI narrator sounds okay. The words are clearly pronounced. It mostly has a even tone and doesn't seem to give a lot of emotion, this is fair though. When it reads a quote within the text it changes its tone, which I think is cool.

    • spauldo@lemmy.ml
      ·
      9 months ago

      I once listened to a Harry Dresden book that was read by text-to-speech (back before they went back and had James Masters read all the books). It always said the word "wizard" (Harry's a wizard) sarcastically. It made it seem like all the other characters were making fun of him all the time and really changed the feel of the book.

  • Weyland@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    9 months ago

    Wish I could use this technology for myself to listen to non-fiction books. Even if it costs $10 I'd still feel it'd be worth it.

      • Weyland@lemmygrad.ml
        ·
        9 months ago

        elevenlabs

        Going by their pricing model I'd have to pay $330 at mininum going by my listening habits... What the.

        $22 a month for 2 hours. That's crazy! It'd be cheaper for me to hire an actual person with these prices. I was thinking of like $10 a book. They're asking at least ten-fold...