Industry bodies recommend consistency in AI audiobook narration terminology

The Audio Publishers Group and the Audio Publishers Association have created new international guidelines on how to label AI narrated audiobooks, recommending the industry replace terms such as "cloning".

The aim of the guidelines is to "provide consistency" around the use of "different kinds of AI narration" that are  "being used interchangeably" and which, according to both groups, can cause "confusion among publishers, retailers and consumers". It recommends that audiobooks recorded using auto-narration or synthesised voice should be labelled "AI Voice".

While narration generated from a specific human voice that seeks to replicate that voice should be called Authorised Voice Replica (AVR), rather than cloning. An example of this would be a publisher working with a deceased author’s estate to create an AVR based on archive samples of the author’s voice.

Jon Watt, chair of the UK Publishers Association’s Audio Publishers Group, said: "With the proliferation of AI-narrated audiobooks, it is vital that our industry has an international language that allows publishers, retailers and consumers to distinguish between different narration types. 

"It is only by giving consumers the chance to make informed choices around AI-narrated products that we as an industry can maintain consumer confidence in our products."

The guidelines, which have been produced in consultation with publishers, retailers, distributors and metadata providers from the US, Canada, UK and Europe, are non-binding recommendations. 

Watt added: "To bring the broadest benefit, it is our hope that publishers and retailers will adopt these naming practices and convey them to consumers."

Michele Cobb, executive director, Audio Publishers Association (part of the UK Publishers Association), said: "By working together to create thoughtful guidelines, we help to ensure transparency, protect consumer trust, and recognise technological changes, all while maintaining the integrity of the audiobook experience."

The guideline authors said they "make no judgments on the use of AI in narration".

Summary of the AI Narration Naming Guidelines:

AI Voice

This label should be applied to an AI-based synthesised voice that has been generated using samples from a large group of unidentified speakers. An example of this is Google’s "Auto Narration" voices, such as "Archie" or "Mary".

Authorised Voice Replica (AVR)

AI-based voice that has been generated using authorised/licensed samples from a specific human voice and seeks to replicate that voice.

In the past, replication has also been referred to as "cloning". For the purposes of these guidelines, "cloning" refers to unauthorised replication where a human has not given permission for their voice to be replicated.