Amazon Develops Alexa Feature to Mimic Voices of Deceased Relatives
Amazon reveals a new AI system that allows Alexa to replicate a deceased loved one's voice from less than a minute of audio. The technology draws heavy criticism and dystopian comparisons from the public.
Amazon unveils a new feature in development for its Alexa virtual assistant that allows the system to speak in the voice of a deceased relative. Using less than a minute of audio recording, the AI generates a high-quality replica of the person's voice to read aloud to users. Amazon senior vice president Rohit Prasad states that while artificial intelligence cannot eliminate the pain of loss, it can help keep memories alive.
The technology immediately draws heavy criticism online, with social media users calling the feature creepy, morbid, and dystopian. Many observers compare the concept to a bleak episode of the television show "Black Mirror," which depicts a similar technology used to cope with grief. The negative reactions highlight a significant disconnect between Amazon's optimistic presentation and the public's actual comfort level with mimicking the dead.
This preview arrives at a time of intense scrutiny regarding advanced artificial intelligence and deepfakes. Experts increasingly worry about the implications of audio and video generated by AI to make people say or do things they never actually did. Amazon does not reveal a public release date for the voice-cloning feature, leaving its future uncertain amid ongoing ethical debates.