Voice AI has been making significant strides in recent times, and ElevenLabs is at the forefront with its innovative GenFM feature. This allows users to upload various types of content and create a multi-speaker podcast, similar to Google's NotebookLM. Let's delve deeper into this exciting development.
Empowering Podcast Creation with ElevenLabs' GenFM
GenFM on ElevenLabs Reader iOS App
The GenFM feature can be found on the company's ElevenLabs Reader iOS app. Currently, it supports an impressive 32 languages, including English, Hindi, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and many more. This wide language support makes it accessible to a global audience.Users can start by uploading a YouTube video, text, or document. Once uploaded, the app automatically picks out two voices to create a podcast. With over a dozen voices available, users have a diverse range to choose from, adding a unique touch to their podcasts.Adding Human Elements to AI-Generated Podcasts
During the app's process of preparing an AI-generated podcast, you might come across interesting screens like "Sprinkling some umms" and "adding some thoughtful pauses." While many tools focus on removing "Ums" and "Ahs," ElevenLabs is consciously adding these human elements. Jack McDermott, who looks after mobile growth at ElevenLabs, explained in an email to TechCrunch that they debated about the right balance of natural human dialogue fillers and providing utility from the content. They aim to achieve a natural, human conversation while still offering value.As they look at exceptional long-form podcasts, they notice fewer interruptions and a more natural, insightful conversation flow. This is the type of experience they are aiming for with GenFM, making audio narratives more accessible across voices and languages.Future Plans and Expansion
Going forward, ElevenLabs plans to support more customization and the ability to add multiple sources to create a GenAI podcast. This will give users even more creative control over their podcasts.In September, Google launched the ability to create AI-generated conversations with NotebookLM from provided sources. A month later, Google added the ability for users to customize these AI-generated podcast outputs. ElevenLabs is also keeping pace with these developments and expanding its reach.Earlier this month, ElevenLabs announced an investment of $11 million into the Polish startup ecosystem and opened an office in Warsaw, which will be its R&D center to attract local AI talent. The startup is also expanding into India, where it has hired a business head and is building a team. Additionally, it has launched conversation AI agents for its customers.In conclusion, ElevenLabs' GenFM feature is a significant step forward in the world of voice AI and podcast creation. With its wide language support, human elements, and future plans for expansion, it is set to make a big impact in the industry.
