Audible Partners with Publishers for AI-narrated Audiobooks Creation
Audible, the audiobook platform owned by Amazon, is collaborating with U.S.-based publishers to turn print and e-books into AI-narrated audiobooks. This move aims to rapidly grow its catalogue, especially for non-English speaking markets. According to Audible CEO Bob Carrigan, audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in publishing. Yet, only about 2% to 5% of books currently exist in audio form. He emphasized that “every book deserves to be heard,” and Audible plans to bridge that gap using artificial intelligence.
AI Narration and Global Reach
With this initiative, publishers can choose from over 100 AI-generated voices across four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Each language includes a variety of accents and dialects, making it easier to adapt to regional markets. Publishers also have the flexibility to create titles exclusively for Audible in exchange for better royalty terms, or they may distribute their content elsewhere. Furthermore, Audible is preparing to launch a translation feature. This tool will convert both text and audio into multiple languages, helping stories reach even more listeners.
Carrigan believes this global push will unlock storytelling for more people in more languages. He described it as an “exciting opportunity” that uses AI to improve accessibility and expand creative reach. By doing so, Audible hopes to serve not only its growing English-speaking base but also new international markets.
Competition and Future Strategy
As competition heats up, especially from Spotify, Audible continues to refine its offerings. Membership is currently at an all-time high, priced at $14.95 (about Rs. 1,275) per month. The platform recently expanded into new regions like Brazil, and it’s testing different subscription tiers and royalty models to remain competitive. However, Audible maintains control over the technology used for AI narration. Publishers cannot upload audiobooks made with third-party AI tools; instead, they must use Audible’s in-house system to access its vast audience.
Additionally, self-published authors are also benefiting. Over 60,000 titles on Audible now feature AI narration, a significant increase from 40,000 last year. This steady growth suggests that AI could play a central role in making audiobooks more universally available.
