Amazon is developing technology that will allow its digital assistant, Alexa, to mimic the voices of deceased loved ones. The company aims to “make the memories last” by providing the ability to recreate the voices of individuals using less than a minute of audio. This technology, which frames the problem as a voice conversion task, has been in development for several years. During a demonstration, an older woman’s voice was used to read her grandson a bedtime story. However, other technology companies, such as Microsoft, have expressed caution about the potential misuse and deception that could arise from creating synthetic voices.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon plans to turn voices into digital assistants | Transformation of deceased voices into AI assistants | Widespread use of deceased voices as AI assistants | Desire for personalized and interactive digital experiences |
| Amazon developing technology for Alexa to mimic voices | Advancement in voice conversion technology | Improved accuracy and realism in voice mimicry | Enhancing user experience and emotional connection |
| Microsoft publishes AI ethics rules for synthetic voices | Strict limits on creation and use of synthetic voices | Controlled and regulated production and application of synthetic voices | Preventing misuse and deception through impersonation |
| Concept of using AI to revive the dead is not new | Continuation of AI’s role in simulating deceased individuals | Further exploration and development of AI-assisted conversations with the deceased | Coping with grief and emotional connection through technology |