Eerily realistic AI voice demo sparks amazement and discomfort online
Eerily realistic AI voice demo sparks amazement and discomfort online
Sesame’s new AI voice model features uncanny imperfections, and it’s willing to act like an angry boss.
In late 2013, the Spike Jonze film Her imagined a future where people would form emotional connections with AI voice assistants. Nearly 12 years later, that fictional premise has veered closer to reality with the release of a new conversational voice model from AI startup Sesame that has left many users both fascinated and unnerved.
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It feels weird, like maybe over-practiced, but I agree that it sounds human enough to fool me.
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It feels reminiscent of the way narrators used to do books on tape. Modern ones are better imho, but all the pausing and intonation definitely seems "professional" more than conversational. Still extremely good.
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I listened to an audiobook by Levar Burton a few days ago, and this sounds similar enough to his pattern of speech during the intro that I wouldn't have known there was anything unusual about the AI voice. If I'd heard it read a book, I would have just assumed that the pauses were a style choice.
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Yeah, it sounds like it was recorded in a recording studio, but not like it's a robot. Very creepy.
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Oh! Interesting! So for you this is in the uncanny valley?
I'm on the fence about that.
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No, I think it sounds very normal, I just think the idea that I can no longer distinguish between fake and real voices creepy.
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It sounds a bit off. But if you're not looking for it, you won't find it. That, I believe, is enough to fool most everyone, which is arguably a bad thing.
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At first, I thought it said it likes peanut butter & people sandwiches, and was like, WTF???? 🫥
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For reference, this is what Maya reminds me of, Merle Dandridge, VA for Half Life 2's Alyx Vance.
I've skipped to some slower commentary, just so that you can kinda see what a human and AI can sound like with similar pacing while reflecting on a question:
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