News/Audio
Google’s new AI feature turns your Discover feed into personalized podcasts
What's new: Google is testing a feature called Daily Listen that transforms users' search interests and Discover feed activity into personalized five-minute audio summaries. The experimental feature is currently rolling out to Android and iOS users in the United States through Google's Search Labs Daily Listen analyzes users' search history and Discover feed interactions to identify and summarize relevant news stories The feature provides both audio content and text transcripts for accessibility Key features and functionality: The AI-powered system offers a comprehensive suite of audio controls and user interaction options. Users can access playback controls including play, pause, mute, rewind,...
read Jan 6, 2025Will.i.am and LG partner on new AI audio line at CES
LG has partnered with musician and tech entrepreneur will.i.am to launch a new AI-enabled audio product line called "xboom by will.i.am" at CES 2025. Product Launch Details: LG unveiled its new audio brand during its CES press conference, featuring Bluetooth speakers and wireless earbuds developed in collaboration with will.i.am, who serves as the brand's "experiential architect." The product line includes smart Bluetooth speakers with AI-powered sound optimization Speakers automatically adjust audio settings based on content analysis to enhance melody, rhythm, and voice Products feature AI-enabled multicolored lighting that syncs with music for ambient effects AI calibration technology allows speakers to...
read Jan 2, 2025Galaxy Watch FE LTE drops $50, plus other top tech deals
An early wave of 2025 consumer electronics deals has arrived, featuring significant discounts on popular audio devices and wearables from major manufacturers. Key deals overview: Major retailers are offering substantial discounts on premium electronics, with savings ranging from $50 to $150 on selected items. Samsung's LTE-enabled Galaxy Watch FE is available at a new Amazon low price of $199.99, representing a $50 discount The standard Bluetooth model of the Galaxy Watch FE remains available through Samsung at $169.99 Nothing Ear transparent wireless earbuds have dropped to $114, marking their lowest price ever and nearly 25% off the regular $149 price...
read Dec 29, 20245 AI tools that can boost your daily productivity
Navigating the vast landscape of AI tools can be overwhelming, but several lesser-known applications stand out for their practical value and affordability. From TypingMind's enhanced chatbot interface to AudioTool's seamless media manipulation capabilities, these five tools demonstrate how advanced AI functionality can be both accessible and user-friendly without breaking the bank. TypingMind A sophisticated chatbot interface that layers additional functionality on top of standard AI models Provides access to multiple AI models, plugins, and multi-user functions Offers web search and AI agent capabilities Available for a one-time reasonable fee without subscription requirements Created by Tony Dinh over 18 months ago...
read Dec 11, 2024How tools like NotebookLM use AI to generate podcasts
Google's NotebookLM transforms written documents into AI-generated audio summaries that mimic podcast-style presentations. Core functionality and purpose: NotebookLM serves as an AI-powered research assistant that helps users process and understand uploaded documents through interactive analysis and summarization. The platform allows users to upload documents or links and engage with AI to extract key information and insights Its Audio Overviews feature converts text content into conversational audio summaries that sound similar to human-hosted podcasts The tool is designed to act as a "thought partner" for researchers and writers working with complex information Technical capabilities: The system employs advanced natural language processing...
read Dec 9, 2024Samsung phones may adopt this popular AI feature from Pixel
The artificial intelligence features race between smartphone manufacturers continues to heat up as Samsung appears to be developing new audio editing capabilities similar to those found in Google's Pixel devices. Latest developments: Samsung is reportedly developing an "Audio Eraser" feature that would enable users to remove unwanted sounds from video recordings. The feature is expected to be included in the upcoming One UI 7 software update Users will have the ability to adjust volume levels for different audio elements including voices, wind noise, music, and crowd sounds Information about this development was leaked by prominent tech insider Ice Universe on...
read Dec 7, 2024Users react to Spotify’s new AI-powered Wrapped feature
Spotify's annual Wrapped feature, which provides users with personalized music listening insights, has sparked discussion about its evolving format and user reception in 2023. Key changes this year: Spotify introduced an AI-powered podcast format for its 2023 Wrapped experience, marking a significant departure from previous iterations. The new format features synthetic DJs that count down users' top songs from throughout the year Some users noted awkward AI interactions, particularly when discussing consistent listening patterns The change represents Spotify's first major integration of AI technology into its year-end review feature User reception and polling data: Initial feedback suggests mixed reactions to...
read Dec 7, 2024This AI transcription app for Mac computers just got a lot better
The latest update to MacWhisper, a popular AI-powered transcription application for Mac, brings significant design improvements and new features that enhance its usability and functionality. Major design overhaul: MacWhisper 11 introduces a completely redesigned interface centered around a new collapsible sidebar that provides quick access to essential features and settings. The new sidebar organizes display settings, AI prompts, translations, transcript information, and speaker management in an easily accessible format Users can now adjust text size, colors, and padding options to customize their transcript viewing experience The sidebar can be collapsed to provide a more focused view of transcripts Individual speakers...
read Dec 5, 2024Google’s new Expressive Captions feature now detects emotional context
Live Captions, a Google Android feature introduced in 2019 that generates real-time captions for any device audio, is receiving a significant upgrade to better capture the emotional context of speech and sounds. Major upgrade details: Google is rolling out Expressive Captions, an AI-powered enhancement to Live Caption that recognizes and visually represents tone, volume, and ambient sounds in captioned text. The new feature is exclusively available in the United States for English language content on devices running Android 14 and above Expressive Captions processes all data locally on the device, allowing it to function even in airplane mode The feature...
read Dec 4, 2024Spotify’s Wrapped will now include AI podcasts based on your listening habits
Spotify's annual Wrapped feature expands in 2024 with an innovative AI-powered podcast component that transforms users' listening data into personalized audio experiences. The core innovation: Spotify is introducing an AI-generated podcast feature that creates personalized audio recaps of users' annual listening habits, leveraging Google's NotebookLM technology to deliver a more engaging Wrapped experience. The feature employs two synthetic hosts who address users by name and discuss their music preferences, streaming patterns, and favorite artists Initial rollout targets English-speaking markets including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and Sweden The AI system analyzes user data to make lifestyle inferences...
read Dec 3, 2024Voiser AI may be your new favorite AI transcription and translation tool
A new AI-powered transcription and summarization tool called Voiser AI has launched across multiple platforms, offering advanced features for processing video and audio content. Product Overview: Voiser AI is a comprehensive transcription and summarization application that converts YouTube videos and audio recordings into text while offering additional analytical capabilities. The tool automatically transcribes content with added punctuation and speaker recognition Users can generate summaries and ask questions about the transcribed content The platform supports translation into 75 different languages, making it accessible to a global audience Launch Details and Reception: The application has made a strong debut on Product Hunt...
read Nov 28, 2024Sportradar launches AI-powered audio ads for sports broadcasts
Sportradar's introduction of AI-powered audio advertising represents a significant advancement in sports marketing technology, combining real-time sports data with artificial intelligence to create personalized audio advertisements. Major Innovation: Sportradar has launched a Generative AI audio feature within its multi-channel marketing service ad:s, targeting sports betting and iGaming operators. The new feature leverages AI to create personalized, real-time audio advertisements The system utilizes live sports data to generate dynamic content during sporting events The technology aims to simplify audio advertising creation without requiring extensive creative teams or high production costs Market Context: Consumer behavior trends and industry data support the strategic...
read Nov 26, 2024Adobe’s free AI podcast enhancer transforms bad recordings
The rise of AI-powered audio enhancement tools is making professional-quality podcast production more accessible to creators without expensive equipment or dedicated recording spaces. Major breakthrough in podcast production: Adobe Enhance Speech V2 represents a significant advancement in audio processing technology, enabling creators to transform low-quality recordings into professional-sounding content. The tool effectively removes background noise, hisses, and crackles from recordings Enhanced audio features improved bass response and professional studio-quality sound Processing times have been notably reduced in version 2 of the software Key features and functionality: Adobe Enhance Speech operates as a web-based tool within the Adobe Podcast suite, offering...
read Nov 26, 2024AI voice company ElevenLabs offers 2-month free trial in Black Friday sale
The artificial intelligence audio generation platform ElevenLabs is offering significant Black Friday discounts on its suite of voice synthesis and sound effect creation tools. Key features and capabilities: ElevenLabs provides an extensive array of AI-powered audio generation tools, from voice cloning to sound effects creation, accessible through browsers and dedicated applications. The platform offers high-quality voice cloning technology that can replicate human voices with remarkable accuracy Users can access historical voices like James Dean and Judy Garland through the Reader app A browser plugin enables automatic conversion of written articles into audio content The platform includes a robust sound effects...
read Nov 26, 2024Nvidia claims its new Fugatto model is the world’s most versatile sound machine
The development of Fugatto, NVIDIA's groundbreaking generative AI sound model, represents a significant advancement in audio technology, offering unprecedented flexibility in creating and manipulating various types of sound using text and audio inputs. The breakthrough innovation: NVIDIA has introduced Fugatto, a versatile generative AI model that can create and transform any combination of music, voices, and sounds using text prompts and audio file inputs. The model's name stands for Foundational Generative Audio Transformer Opus 1 Multi-platinum producer Ido Zmishlany describes the technology as "wild," highlighting its potential to create entirely new sounds in real-time The system demonstrates emergent properties, allowing...
read Nov 25, 2024Nvidia’s new AI generates music from text and audio inputs
The artificial intelligence industry continues to push boundaries in audio generation, with Nvidia announcing Fugatto, a new AI tool capable of creating unique sounds and music through text and audio inputs. Key Innovation: Nvidia's Fugatto represents a significant advancement in AI-generated audio by producing novel sound combinations and transformations that claim to be entirely original. The system can create unconventional audio combinations, such as a trumpet that meows or a saxophone that transitions from howling to barking before merging into electronic music Fugatto can generate specific sound effects based on detailed descriptions, including complex audio scenarios like simulating the sound...
read Nov 24, 2024AI voice recorder Plaud Note now 20% off for Black Friday
The Plaud Note AI voice recorder combines high-quality audio recording capabilities with advanced AI features, making it a valuable tool for professionals and students seeking efficient note-taking and transcription solutions. Product overview: The Plaud Note represents a thoughtful integration of AI technology in hardware, differentiating itself from products that merely add AI features as an afterthought. The device attaches to iPhones via MagSafe technology, making it easily portable and accessible Originally priced at $159, it is now available for $127 during Black Friday sales on Amazon The package includes the Note device, a case, magnetic ring, charging cable, and 300...
read Nov 22, 2024This journalist used AI to turn a 3rd grade journal into an engaging podcast
The emerging capabilities of AI tools are enabling creative new ways to revisit and analyze personal historical documents, as demonstrated by a writer's experiment converting childhood diary entries into an AI-generated podcast. The innovation process: Google's NotebookLM and ChatGPT were combined to transform handwritten diary entries from third grade into an audio discussion format. ChatGPT Plus's image processing capability was utilized to digitize photographs of the handwritten diary pages The transcribed text was then uploaded to NotebookLM, which generated a nearly 11-minute podcast featuring AI voices discussing the content NotebookLM, launched by Google in July 2023, added its Audio Overviews...
read Nov 14, 2024AI can hear when a lithium battery is about to catch fire
The rapid growth in lithium-ion battery usage has led to increasing safety concerns, particularly as battery fires pose unique challenges with their intense heat and rapid onset. The innovation breakthrough: NIST researchers have developed an AI-powered system that can detect the distinctive sound made by lithium-ion batteries moments before they catch fire. The system recognizes a specific "click-hiss" sound, similar to opening a soda bottle, which occurs when a battery's safety valve breaks due to internal pressure Researchers Wai Cheong "Andy" Tam and Anthony Putorti trained the AI using over 1,000 unique audio samples derived from 38 exploding battery recordings...
read Nov 13, 2024This week in AI voice tech: NotebookLM, OpenAI’s Speech API and A16Z’s reactions
A new wave of voice technology and AI breakthroughs is reshaping the consumer tech landscape, with major announcements from industry leaders highlighting the growing importance of audio and speech capabilities. Key developments: Google's NotebookLM has expanded its capabilities with a new Audio Overview feature that enables podcast creation across multiple languages. The feature supports more than 35 languages, making it accessible to a global audience Users can create customizable podcast content, marking a significant step forward in AI-powered audio generation This development aligns with the growing trend of AI-assisted content creation tools Industry momentum: OpenAI has strengthened its position in...
read Nov 1, 2024Google’s new AI tool ‘Illuminate’ turns complex research into simple conversations
AI-powered research assistant transforms complex papers into accessible audio: Google's new experimental tool, Illuminate, uses artificial intelligence to convert dense academic papers into concise audio discussions, aiming to assist researchers and writers in digesting complex material more efficiently. Key features and functionality: Illuminate generates AI-powered audio conversations that break down the main points and takeaways of academic papers, making them more accessible to users. The tool creates conversations between two AI-generated voices, discussing the key elements of the uploaded paper. Currently, Illuminate is optimized for published computer science academic papers. Users can upload PDF links from arxiv.org or search for...
read Oct 23, 2024Otter.ai expands transcription to 2 new languages, with more on the way
Otter.ai expands transcription services: Otter.ai, a leading AI-powered transcription service, has announced the addition of Spanish and French language support to its platform, broadening its appeal to a global audience. The expansion allows users to transcribe audio in real-time for both in-person and virtual meetings on popular platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Users can now interact with Otter's AI Chat feature in their preferred language, asking follow-up questions about the transcriptions. Switching between languages is straightforward, requiring only a simple change in the settings menu. Enhanced accuracy and industry leadership: Otter.ai claims its transcription quality surpasses...
read Oct 18, 2024An inside look at NotebookLM’s new AI-powered features
AI-powered note-taking evolution: Google's NotebookLM, an AI-driven note-taking tool, has received significant updates aimed at enhancing user experience and expanding its functionality for both individual and enterprise users. Enhanced audio capabilities: The latest update to NotebookLM introduces more control over Audio Overviews, transforming users' documents into AI-hosted podcast-like discussions. Users can now guide the conversation by focusing on specific topics and sources, tailoring the content for particular audiences. The new update allows for customization of prompts before generating a "Deep Dive" Audio Overview, ensuring the AI concentrates on key areas and specific topics. A background listening option has been introduced,...
read Oct 17, 2024Illuminate is Google’s new AI podcasting tool — here’s how it works
Google's latest AI innovation in podcasting: Google Illuminate is a cutting-edge AI tool designed to revolutionize the podcasting landscape by generating conversational content from diverse sources. Illuminate leverages Google's advanced Gemini AI model, boasting a 2 million token context window, which is twice the capacity of competing systems. The tool can process and synthesize information from text, video, and audio inputs to create AI-generated podcasts. Currently, Illuminate's focus is exclusively on scientific research available on arxiv.org, a free science portal maintained by Cornell University. How Illuminate works: Users can generate AI-powered podcasts through a straightforward process that involves searching for...
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