You've heard of deepfake voices, but what exactly are they? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about this AI technology and how it compares to TTS.

Deepfake voices and text to speech

Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, people can now create high-quality and realistic synthetic media. This technology has opened doors to many new creative technologies affecting many industries. One such technology is deepfakes, also referred to as synthetic voices and voice cloning.

What are deepfake voices?

Deepfake means synthetic media, also known as voice cloning. With AI, it is possible for users to generate video deepfakes that swap someone’s looks with some other person’s on screen or turn someone into saying something he will always disagree had actually come out his mouth, popularly referred as voice cloning. Imagine that you could have an Arnold Schwarzenegger voice repeat what you want.

The process requires special software for analyzing faces, processing voice from text scripts, and modeling the movement of the mouth in a three-dimensional space.

There are some advanced uses for this technology but Voice Cloning is one of them. Almost everyone, even if not tech geeks, has come across some deepfake scandal. However, there has recently been released a posthumous documentary about Tony Bourdain surprising the audience as he was still able to narrate in

IT start-ups helped the production company to recreate Bourdin’s voice for giving a touch of reality in the story. No doubt, this is quite an achievement but it has many moral issues. After all, one only needs a computer loaded with the right software for someone to produce doctored footage or impugning sound about any other person.

How exactly are deepfakes made?

First, you gather enough samples of someone’s voice. Input may come from social media posts, recorded phone calls, television, etc. Then, software running on AI algorithms combines the samples to produce a fake voice. 

This is a basic overview of the complex process, but in the end, AI tools use the gathered data to create natural-sounding voices that can read digital text. For this reason, deepfakes are closely related to text to speech (TTS) technology. 

The integration of deep fake voices in text-to-speech

Users can manipulate features such as pitch, age and accent by making use of deep fake voice technology integrated into text-to-speech systems. Such people can even develop synthesized voices that resemble their desired tone and style for example in case of vocal disability. Such customisation will greatly improve their ability to communicate and their quality of living in a general sense.

Using deep fake voices, they create more appealing audio contents that attract followers and loyalty for content creators. They utilize deep fake voices which sound like those of notable narrators or stars in order to attract and fascinate listeners. It is especially worthwhile for multimedia content like audio books, podcasts, where the sound has great impact for evoking feelings in audience involvement.

However, the use of deep fake voices for incorporation into TTS systems poses several moral problems. Deep fake voices are capable of manipulation and impersonation—misleading people who are unable to give a consent regarding such acts. This points to the need for firm controls and statutes promoting the rightful and moral application of this technology.

Finally, the incorporation of deep fake voices into text-to-speech systems presents an opportunity for individualized and engaging voice synthesis. This technology may greatly change our interaction with generated speech in way that will make it more accessible and improve general satisfaction for users considering ethical concerns.

Pros

Deepfakes contain several positive elements. The “ This Is Not Morgan Freeman” deepfake video of 2021 demonstrated how Augmented technology could have its utility.

The images showed that by training the AI with audio recording and the film clips, they were able to create an impersonation of the actor including mimicking his movements, appearance and speech. As we pointed out it has its ethical problems, but can be priceless for a person such as actor Val Kilmer.

Even though Kilmer got throat cancer that made him lose his voice, some people believed it was the end of his Hollywood career. In a Prime Voice, on the Amazon Prime Documentary about Kilmer it was revealed that the actor’s son would provide Kilmer with voice-overs when performing new roles.

Nonetheless, when Kilmer joined hands with Sonantic—an IT startup that is voice modeled, he eventually got his voice back. Using deepfake technology, the company recreated Kilmer’s voice, and audiences could hear the astounding results in the recently released movie Top Gun: Maverick.

Cons

Machine learning can replicate someone’s voice in locations like New York that are rapidly embracing technology. This makes it easy for individuals to reveal their personal information and fall into a trap of phony or fraud calls.

Ethical concerns about Deepfake technology

There are some ethical questions surrounding the use of deep fake voices and deepfake text to speech. As more technological advancements come in, there are potential setbacks. The deep fake voices of Arnold Schwarzenegger AI voice, for instance, are so natural that they fool people. This may cause suspicion of anything heard and self-doubt.

As society embraces any form of a new technology, it must think twice about the perils that come with it at hand. Deep fakes can deceive and influence human beings through their voices. It is therefore reasonable to worry, as it may compromise the public confidence and infringe privacy rights.

Majorly, there is an urgent problem when it comes to the use of deep fakes. Even more dangerous is the use of synthetic voices when used by phone scams and disinformation campaigns which are on a wide dispersal. Just imagine that you receive an unknown call but someone’s voice sounds very familiar. You might recognize this voice as your close friend, family member or boyfriend/girlfriend. But, almost immediately afterwards it would become clear that this is only a hoax. Manipulation can cause extremely adverse effects that can affect people, entire communities or statehoods.

Reducing the impact of wrongful use of deep fake voices

In order to reduce this threat, strong regulatory and user-education programs are necessary. Deep fake voices need to be used judiciously and there should be guidelines put in place by governments and technology companies working jointly. Effective measures have been developed to identify and combat the illicit application of synthetic voices technology; these also involve educating users on this fact since synthetic voice technology can be used for malicious purposes.

In addition, it calls for careful consideration of being innovative but not crossing boundaries in using deep fake voice and text-to-speech technology. The developments in technology are certainly promising but there needs to be transparency and proper accountability when using them. It is important to inform users of voice synthesis because it allows them to know better what information is real and what is fake.

Legal and privacy regarding deepfake voices

Legal and privacy considerations also come into play when it comes to deep fake voices. Questions arise regarding the ownership of synthesized voices and the potential for unauthorized use. Clear guidelines need to be established to navigate these complex issues, ensuring that individuals' rights are protected and that the technology is used responsibly.

As we navigate the ethical considerations surrounding deep fake voices, it is essential to engage in open and inclusive discussions. Ethicists, policymakers, technologists, and the general public must come together to address these concerns and shape the future of this technology in a way that benefits society as a whole.

Imagine getting a call that sounds like it's from a friend or family member, but it's actually a fake voice trying to trick you. This can harm people, communities, and even whole countries. There are many use cases for deep fake voices, from fun applications like having Alexa speak in a celebrity's voice to more serious uses that can be misleading.

The need for regulation to make the usage of deepfake voices ethical

To keep people safe, we need strong rules and ways to teach users about these fake voices. Governments and tech companies should work together. They need to make rules about how to use deep fake voices the right way. They also need to find ways to spot and stop harmful fake voices.

When using deep fake voices, it's important to be careful and think about what's right and wrong. Even though these new voice tools are cool, we need to use them in a way that's honest. People should know when a voice they hear is made by a computer. This way, they can decide if they trust what they're hearing.

Talking about the problems with deep fake voices is important. Everyone, from experts to everyday people, should share their thoughts. This will help us use this technology in a way that's good for everyone.

Luckily, as voice-making software gets better, we'll also get better at spotting fake voices. Tech companies are making tools to spot and stop these fake voices. This will help places like banks and call centers in New York make sure they're talking to real people and not computer voices trying to trick them.

Deepfake voice software to try

Machine learning tools can positively impact many people’s lives and you may be interested in trying to create an audio deepfake. Although you’ll need cutting-edge hardware and software for high-quality results, you can use several programs to produce natural-sounding voices. Here are five deepfake voice generators you can try:

Resemble

Resemble AI is a text to speech and deepfake creation tool that produces human voices using limited data. With approximately five minutes of audio recordings, users can create their first deepfake.

You can test the sample feature and feed the app clips of yourself, and within a few minutes, you’ll hear a familiar voice. Users appreciate Resemble’s easy-to-use interface and they can even tweak the intonation of the audio output.

Descript

This impressive speech synthesizer boasts powerful editing capabilities. The program analyzes voice recordings, video clips, and transcripts to generate AI-powered voices. If you’re dissatisfied with the quality of the input material, you can edit it directly from the app—no need to do any additional takes.

Descript’s primary purpose is to help content creators make high-quality voiceovers for their podcasts and videos. The program has countless stock voices you can experiment with to become familiar with Descript’s capabilities.

ReSpeecher

ReSpeecher is a reliable deepfake solution that helped recreate Luke Skywalker’s voice in The Mandalorian. Although the software is suitable for movies and TV shows, it can also be an excellent way to make voiceovers for advertisements, animations, video games, podcasts, and more. 

iSpeech

iSpeech is available as a desktop program, but you can also try the web-based version. In addition to voice synthesizing, the app has text to speech, web reader, and speech recognition features. To get used to the software, you can try one of its demos and play around with the voices of Barrack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Scarlett Johansson.

Real-Time voice cloning

This open-source project is available for free on GitHub. This comprehensive toolbox can synthesize a person’s voice with as little as five seconds of audio input. However, users have reported that operating the software requires moderate to advanced technical skills.

Speechify – the easy-to-use text to speech alternative to deepfake voices

Text to speech (TTS) apps like Speechify and deepfake generators rely on similar technologies, but the two have different purposes. Speechify is a TTS or read-aloud tool that can read virtually any printed or digital text. After users import a Microsoft Word document, article, or transcript into the app and select their preferred narrator voice, Speechify will read the content aloud.

The program boasts an unmatched selection of high-quality male and female voices and supports over 20 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. If you want to boost productivity and listen to a celebrity read to you, why not check out Speechify’s Gwyneth Paltrow voice?

Download the program on your computer, iPhone, or Android device and try Speechify for free today.

FAQ

Is FakeYou free?

FakeYou is a user-friendly and free program you can use to create natural-sounding voices.

How do you know if a voice is deepfake?

It can be challenging to identify deepfakes without sophisticated software. Cybersecurity companies use voice-biometric systems to prevent deepfake fraud. 

What are some of the dangers of deepfake voices?

Deepfakes sometimes serve malicious purposes and can spread misinformation, ruin a person's reputation, and cause a lack of trust in government institutions.