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The latest update on TikTok allows users to transform their own voice into an artificial intelligence (AI) simulated version, enabling them to use their digital voice in their content in place of generic template speakers.
The Chinese-based social media platform has been at the forefront of text-to-speech technology, letting users enjoy AI-generated voiceover functions using preset voices. While Instagram and other social networks have also adopted this feature, TikTok is going the extra mile by offering custom AI voiceovers using users’ voices.
Social media expert Jonah Manzano spotted the update and posted on Threads about the new option to “Create Your Own AI Voice,” which some users found in TikTok voiceover functions. Manzano also tested the tool in a separate YouTube video.
Users are asked to record themselves reading out a few lines to create their own AI voice. This audio recording is then used to generate a synthesized voice that imitates their voice in just 10 seconds. TikTok allows multiple attempts until the user is satisfied with their digital voice, which they can apply with text-to-speech in their clips.
Additionally, the new update also takes things further by including an additional feature that translates custom voiceovers into other languages. According to Manzano’s video, the languages available include English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, and Indonesian.
TikTok was able to build this tool in its app, thanks to parent company ByteDance. In January, ByteDance reportedly succeeded in developing an AI system called “StreamVoice” that is capable of imitating human voices.
SteamVoice can generate believably accurate human voices in real time based only on a few utterances in short audio input. This breakthrough has made it possible for anyone’s voice to be replicated.
TikTok has acknowledged that its new tool may be tapped to produce more convincing hoaxes, deepfakes, and fake news with the use of lifelike voices. Thus, it notes that “your AI voice will be private, and you can delete it at any time.”
