TikTok Replaces Its AI Voice After Lawsuit With Previous Voice, To Users’ Dismay
Image via Primakov / Shutterstock.com
Earlier this month, it was reported that TikTok had gotten tangled in a lawsuit with the voice of its text-to-speech function, which allows users to add speech to their videos without vocalizing anything.
Bev Standing, the original voice behind the feature, allegedly said she had not given the social media platform permission to use her recordings.
Now, TikTok has a new female voice taking over its text-to-speech feature, which it had rolled out for user accessibility in late 2020. Voices on the app vary by the user’s region, and it seems the new voice has been switched for North American users, as per Insider.
However, it seems most users aren’t warming up to the new voice. According to Refinery29, the new voice sounds more upbeat than Standing’s recordings, and has been said to resemble a voice from a Barbie doll.
“Like… why she sound like that, though…” commented one user, with the voice change seeming to have caught most people on TikTok by surprise.
Some users have even said they’re afraid to update the app, not wanting the new voice and much preferring the old, “more monotone” version.
Hopefully, the new voice actor isn’t taking the critique too harshly.
@gia.guidotti Like... why she sound like that tho...? #tiktokupdate#fyp#confused#weird#ihateit#texttospeech#foryou#explainthis
♬ brandy running and crying - brandy running and crying
@fymlili I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION ##texttospeech ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupahe ##update ##ConjuringHorror ##sad ##tiktok ##siri ##trend ##help
♬ Castaways - The Backyardigans
[via Insider and Refinery29, cover image via Primakov / Shutterstock.com]
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