On Wednesday, Audible, the audiobook subsidiary of Amazon, unveiled a new AI-driven search tool in testing designed to help users refine their audiobook queries.
Effective immediately, a handful of Audible’s U.S. clientele have the chance to engage with “Maven,” the platform’s latest AI for generating personalized book recommendations. Through the use of everyday language, customers can submit their queries, which Maven processes to offer custom suggestions from its extensive selection, nearly reaching a million titles. For example, a request like “Find me a feel-good story about a heroine.”
The Maven service is accessible via web browsers, as well as on iOS and Android devices, with approximately 50% of Audible’s member base in the U.S. gaining access. At present, this service applies to a restricted segment of Audible’s collection, as noted in a company blog entry.
Audible plans to refine and upgrade this service as its beta phase progresses.
The specific AI technologies driving this feature have not been disclosed by Audible. However, a spokesperson for the company shared with TechCrunch that Maven relies on “a blend of diverse models” and they will “keep assessing” the technology for future enhancements.
In addition, Audible is experimenting with other AI applications, including AI-curated collections and AI-crafted reviews, alongside the introduction of Maven. This move might be seen as Audible’s answer to Spotify’s AI-created music playlists.
This news comes after reports indicated that Audible users are already consuming thousands of audiobooks voiced by AI, a shift that has sparked contention among traditional narrators concerned about job loss to automation. As of May, Audible identified over 40,000 audiobooks narrated by AI, a figure which has presumably risen since.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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