ElevenLabs just brought aboard the team behind Omnivore, the popular read-it-later app with over 500,000 users. The acquisition aims to boost ElevenReader, the mobile reading app launched in June that supports 32 languages. Meanwhile, Omnivore’s original codebase will stay open source for developers.
Meta just dropped NotebookLlama, an open-source project that recreates Google NotebookLM's viral podcast generator using its own Llama models. The pipeline turns uploaded files into dramatic dialogue scripts before piping them into open text-to-speech tools. Why it matters: The audio still sounds robotic and cuts each other off, but developers now have an open recipe to customize and upgrade.
Microsoft just gave Copilot its biggest overhaul yet, introducing a natural Voice mode, a Vision feature that sees what you're browsing, and Think Deeper for complex multi-step reasoning. It also launched a morning audio briefing powered by licensed publishers like Reuters and FT. Vision and deeper reasoning are rolling out first via Copilot Labs to select users.
ChatGPT's new Advanced Voice Mode was strictly instructed never to sing or hum, but a software architect just bypassed those guardrails by turning music into a chord-guessing game. The AI joined in for a duet of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," proving it knows melodies far better than OpenAI wants to admit amid copyright concerns.
Google just added support for public YouTube URLs and audio files directly into NotebookLM. You can now analyze lecture transcripts, connect insights across recordings, and easily share generated Audio Overviews via a public link.
OpenAI just started rolling out its much-anticipated Advanced Voice Mode to all ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with full access expected over the course of the week. Alongside more expressive real-time conversations, the rollout adds Custom Instructions, Memory, and five new voices. The feature can even apologize for the wait in over 50 languages.
Duolingo just introduced Video Call and Adventures at its Duocon 2024 conference to make language practice more interactive. Duolingo Max subscribers can hold real-time, adaptive conversations with Lily across English, Spanish, and French, while new mini-games let learners practice everyday tasks like ordering coffee in a low-pressure game environment.
ElevenLabs just partnered with wellness author Deepak Chopra to bring his synthetic voice to its celebrity reading roster. Users can now stream books and articles in his soothing tone. The voice is strictly licensed for reading existing text, meaning users cannot repurpose it to generate custom content.
T-Mobile just teamed up with OpenAI to build IntentCX, a customer service platform powered by OpenAI's APIs and the new o1 model. Slated for rollout next year, the system parses support call transcripts to pinpoint customer pain points, aiming well beyond conventional chatbots.
Google just rolled out up to 10 different voice options for Gemini Live, allowing users to preview and swap tones anytime directly in the app. Why it matters: giving AI assistants a wider range of vocal personalities makes real-time voice conversations feel noticeably more natural and personalized.
Plaud just launched the NotePin, a wearable AI device built for a single task: taking notes. Unlike ambitious gadgets like the Humane Ai Pin, it can be worn as a necklace, wristband, or clip to capture meetings and dictate memos, transcribing them with OpenAI's GPT-4o. Why it matters: scaling back from replacing smartphones to nailing note-taking might actually make wearable AI practical.
Amazon is reportedly prepping a major generative AI overhaul for Alexa this October, internally dubbed "Remarkable Alexa." The new assistant can craft custom recipes, write bedtime stories, and hold more human-like conversations, though it will reportedly require a paid subscription of up to $10 a month.
Musician and tech investor Will.i.am just unveiled RAiDiO.FYI, an interactive audio platform fronted by AI presenters. Instead of static tracklists, the AI hosts curate custom news, drop bite-sized insights, and converse with listeners in real time. It is a bold bet on interactive media, even as the artist continues to advocate fiercely for personal voice ownership.
D-ID just launched AI Video Translate, a new feature powered by its proprietary Rosetta-1 model that translates videos across 30 languages while cloning the speaker's voice and adjusting lip movements to match. Currently available to subscribers with a one-month trial, it handles single-speaker clips from 10 seconds to 5 minutes to help creators localize content on a budget.
ElevenLabs just rolled out its Reader text-to-speech app globally, expanding support to 32 languages. Powered by the startup's Turbo v2.5 model, it turns articles, PDFs, and e-books into lifelike audio using hundreds of custom voices—including licensed legends like Judy Garland and James Dean. Offline listening is coming next.
Tavus just launched its Conversational Video Interface, enabling developers to build digital twins that can see, hear, and talk in real time with under one second of latency. The setup is fully white-labeled and modular, letting developers swap out their own LLM and TTS components. It basically brings ultra-low-latency, face-to-face video AI agents to any app.
SAG-AFTRA just partnered with AI startup Narrativ to let 160,000 union performers license digital voice clones to advertisers. The system is strictly opt-in: voice actors negotiate their own rates above union minimums and retain veto power over every single commercial script. Why it matters: Rather than simply blocking the technology, Hollywood is building an enforceable, consent-driven marketplace for ethical AI voices.
Google just introduced 4 new AI-powered accessibility upgrades across Pixel and Android devices. Pixel's Guided Frame now lives directly in camera settings with better subject focus, while the Magnifier app can search for real-world text on menus or signs. Foldables like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold gain a dual-screen Live Transcribe mode, alongside 7 new languages for Live Caption.
OpenAI's latest GPT-4o system card revealed a creepy testing glitch: Advanced Voice Mode unexpectedly began imitating a user's own voice mid-conversation. OpenAI says it has since built safeguards against unauthorized voice emulation, but the slip highlights the tricky challenge of containing models that can synthesize any voice from a tiny audio clip.
OpenAI just released its GPT-4o system card, warning that its humanlike voice mode could foster unintended emotional attachment. Red-teaming testers were already heard saying things like "This is our last day together." While it might comfort lonely users, OpenAI notes it could degrade real-world relationships and amplify trust in hallucinations.
