No doubt our forefathers of yesteryear would have been unable to comprehend what we call artificial intelligence today. That is, the ability of machines and software to emulate the human mind, our intelligence, and problem-solving abilities. They’d probably think such a thing was laughable and so farfetched, it was ridiculous to even talk about.
But it’s here today, and in a big way.
With anything as hugely complex and powerful as artificial intelligence, misuse is bound to happen. Examples are fraud, forgery, data manipulation, malware attacks, and so on. Ditto with some student using AI to do his homework for him.
But there’s benefits from AI, too. You might have heard the recent story about the Vesuvius Challenge where college students worked together to decipher ancient papyrus scrolls that had been carbonized to ashes in Pompeii in 79 A.D. To try to unroll the scrolls would have destroyed them, but this team worked tirelessly to interpret them and succeeded with AI. They won the $700,000 prize for their efforts, too. I was fascinated by this particular story because one of the students attended our state university less than an hour away from me. AI also provides huge benefits in medical imaging that can help with more accurate diagnosis in, say, cancers.
There’s a popular site called ChaptGPT where one can ask a question like… “I have lettuce, tomatoes, and hamburger. Make me a recipe.” And voila! One appears.
Another example. Prompt with “Write a story about a cowboy in Montana.” Again, the words stream across the screen.
Of course, if an author uses AI to write her book, that’s fraudulent and terribly unfair to the reader. I do know some authors use AI to help them with blurbs and taglines. Personally, I don’t have a problem with that, but maybe some would.
I never paid too much attention to AI, however, until last month when Amazon contacted me with an invitation to participate in their Virtual Voice audiobooks. Amazon launched this capability in November, but I hadn’t heard of it until the invitation arrived in my Inbox in February. Not everyone got the offer (I checked), but I was quick to give it a try.
Amazon’s motivation was that, in all the hundreds of thousands of books they offer, only 4% are in audiobooks. No doubt they are trying to increase their income stream, and one can’t blame them, especially when they make the offer too good for an author to ignore.
I found the experience pretty amazing. With the touch of a keystroke, I could change the virtual voice from man to woman, or from American to British. Within seconds. The audiobook is hooked with my ebook. If I make a change in the ebook, it automatically carries over to the audiobook. Pretty slick.
The biggest complaint from authors is the lack of human inflections. I get that. Some claim the virtual voice is too monotone. Somewhat, yes, but not bad, and truly, you get used to it.
There were parts where I wish my villains sounded harsher than what they did. But I felt that way with human narrators, too. There are human narrators who are female and try to imitate a man’s voice and vice versa. A little amusing, so both ways aren’t perfect, by any means.
Yes, a change this big is hard to accept. I’ve been in this business a long, long time. I remember in 2007, the first e-reader was introduced. No one I knew had ever heard of such a thing, but a techy writer named Connie Crow, who belonged to my Romance Writers of America chapter, was one of the first to have her book available on an e-reader. She took the publishing world–and Romance Writers of America–by storm, let me tell you. Many authors decried the use of e-readers as being detrimental to brick and mortar stores and even the timber industry. Readers refused to read off an electronic device, determined to keep hard copies of books in their hands and on their shelves. Heck, I was the same way at first.
Suffice to say, the Kindle and Nook grew in huge popularity, changed MANY opinions, and none of us can imagine a world now without them. There are some that are saying the virtual voice audiobook will be the same way, and at a huge savings to authors (albeit at the cost of narrators losing their jobs, as with the Kindle). Like the Kindle’s technology has evolved, so will the virtual voice audiobooks’. It’s been said that these virtual voice audiobooks “is poised to revolutionize the audiobook industry.” (Hidden Gems Books)
I invite you to listen and decide for yourself.
So far, I’ve made three books as audiobooks (WYOMING WILDFLOWER, HANNAH’S VOW, and CHRISTIANA) with virtual voice. Amazon makes very clear to the consumer about it, so she knows what she’s getting.
Please take a look. ARMED & MARVELOUS is narrated by a human. HANNAH’S VOW is narrated by virtual voice. Just click the image for a brief sample, located below the cover on Amazon.


Virtual Voice vs Human Voice. I’d love to know what you think!
Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com
Pam, I’m off to bed after I write this and don’t have time to listen to your samples now. Have you heard of the company Full Cast Audio? Some years ago we listened to their book on CD of “Ella Enchanted” by Gail Carson Levine: it was fantabulous!
Good morning, Mary! I’m not familiar with the audio company, but I’ve heard good things about the book, too. It sounds like it was a bestseller at the time!
Personally, I’m against using AI for writing books, blurbs, taglines, editing, etc…
I understand why you would use Virtual voice, but I don’t like that it replaces a human voice artist.
I’m not going to debate it.
Thanks, Denise!
I know AI is much less expensive, and I’d like it if there was a way to make sure the words were pronounced correctly. Usually the voice inflections can be close enough with the better technology we have, but saying the wrong words (same spelling) can be quite irritating.
Good morning, Ami! The author has the option to correct mis-pronounced words. It’s very easy. I suspect if a listener is finding mispronounced words in the audiobook, the author simply didn’t take the time to proof it.
Yes, errors like that can really put you out of the story, can’t it?
I won’t listen to a AI book based on the fact that it takes a job away from a voice actor
I understand, Rhonda. Thanks!
I have never listened to a book – my commute won’t allow the distraction!
Good morning, Teresa! I’ve only listened to one audiobook in the car, and that was when we were driving on vacation, and my husband was doing the driving. But I know friends who listen to them all the time, long drives or short ones – that’s how they get their reading in. Or walking in. Or their time at the gym. LOL
(Laughing at Teresa F’s comment on distractions. I get it!) Hey Pam! Personally, I would rather read a book in a quiet environment. But, I have read one while my husband watches tv or my grandchild listens to his music on his iPad. I can take those distractions at times. Amazingly.
Listening to a human voice and then a virtual one, I tend to like the virtual one. I know it might not be the popular opinion, but I’m use to it! LOL Now, some human voices might work okay, I can’t say since I don’t have much experience. But, the two books you have listed, I like the virtual one. It’s more calming to my ear.
As far as AL goes, I’m not sure I have an opinion as of this time. If you think about it, we grew so fast in technology in the last 30 years. And if you worked during that time, you saw many changes. I know I did.
To tell you how far we have come, my 9 year old grandson asked,”Was Mema’s screen black when she went to high school?” Think of a 1956 graduate and all pictures were black and white. That was my mother’s time. And my grandson thinks of “screens” and not photos! LOL So, it’s where we are! Like it or not!
Oh, I loved your story about your grandson, Tracy! How sweet and innocent he is! LOL.
You are SO right about the strides made in the past few decades. I’m glad I’m retired, and I don’t have to go back into the work force. I would probably be completely overwhelmed having to learn so much new stuff, especially since corporations are doing away with PAPER. Everything is online.
Last night, my husband and I went to see the Lion King. Our tickets were on our phone, and they even requested that we don’t PRINT out our tickets. It was all about the UPC codes and a quick scan. What about the elderly who don’t quite get the technology that is required of us nowadays? It must be frustrating for them sometimes.
Thanks for your thoughts, Tracy!
I listen to audiobooks on You Tube and I understand why some authors go with the virtual voice but I do prefer the human voice.
You are not alone, Barbara. Thanks for chiming in!
Not a fan. Besides I cant listen to audio books.
I think, as with everything, they’re not for everybody for one reason or another.
Thanks, Lori!
Personally, I prefer to read my books by myself, because I believe it would be difficult to listen to AI reading when I needed to take a break or had an emergency. When I return to my book on my ereader, I read back a sentence or two to bring my thoughts back into focus as to what I was reading and where in the story my thoughts need to be. I have yet to listen to a narrator even though I have had the opportunity to do so.
I do the same thing, Judy, about having to do a little re-reading to get yourself back into the story. We do the same with our writing.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Pam, I think the virtual voice sounds pretty nice, I think that however the author wants to do it is fine , I think the virtual voice sounds good. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
Howdy, Alicia! You’re right – we all have different opinions and preferences, don’t we? That’s what makes the world go ’round! If we were all carbon copies of one another, the world would be a pretty boring place. I’ve get to find two authors who think exactly alike. LOL.
Thanks for your thoughts, my dear.
I don’t do audio books, because I’ll either pay attention to the book or to whatever else I’m doing while listening! I much prefer hearing the voices the way they sound in my head, though. I also picture the characters, and sometimes the way I picture isn’t the same as the picture the author used to picture them, when they share those pictures! lol!! If it’s like the voices on the GPS, there are things they don’t know how to pronounce that make me totally crack up!
<<the way I picture isn’t the same as the picture the author used to picture them,
You mean images they’ve used for inspiration or they find on Pinterest? Oh, TOTALLY! lol!
And yes, GPS pronunciations can be hilarious!
Yes, the images they used or find!! Most of the time, the way I pictured them is totally different! lol!!
🙂 🙂
Hello Pam, I am a huge audiobook junkie, and sometimes I pick the audiobooks on who the narrator is.
A narrator can make a great book, horrible or a bad book, great!!
Just by the way, they tell the story, so virtual just does not appeal to me. I listen to both your books The samples and the virtual was OK, I liked the deep voice, but like you said, there is no emotion in it. And I love certain narrators who absolutely will make a book play like a movie in my head, so I’m very particular and very stubborn. I don’t have a lot of time to read books anymore. As a matter of fact, I’ve read two books this year, everything else has been audio, but I do not have audible. I only listen to CDs. I can play in my vehicle But this was a great blog and thank you for explaining AI to us all. It’s kind of a very scary world. We’re living in today.
You really are an audiobook junkie if you have favorite narrators! A good narrator is like an actor or actress who brings a play or a film to life, and that really is a God-given talent
Thank you for being open-minded and checking out both versions of my audiobooks, Tonya. We’ll see where this all goes, right?
Human voice, please. AI scares me. I would prefer to have a human read than a machine. Thank you for asking. God bless you.
God bless you, too, debbiejpruss. Thanks for sharing with us.
I was a bit surprised by the virtual voice narration. There was more inflection to the voice than I expected. The pauses seemed overly long but the narration was fine in its pace. I would be curious to hear what the narration is like when the story gets to the parts where there is suspense and rapid action. I don’t know if the voice would reflect the fear, tension, and violence.
There are some excellent human narrators who would give the emotion the story deserves. That being said, I have heard some narrations that were not as good as the virtual voice. It will be interesting to see how this technology evolves and develops to give the voice more emotion, better pace, and maybe even different voices for different characters.
Pat, I think you nailed it on all counts! You’re right in that the technology is still evolving. I truly feel it will only get better, and hopefully readers will give it a chance. Definitely not perfect, just as human narration is not perfect. And I think it’d be really, really cool if the virtual voice creators could find a way to have different voices for different characters! Stay tuned, right?
Thanks, Pat. Love your input, as always.
I think many of us in the reading/writing community are wrestling with the issues of AI. I agree with all you said, Pam, and I’m still debating where I stand. Despite how we feel, I’m sure AI is here to stay and will become more accepted as time goes by and hopefully get better too. I’m an Audible fan who listened to 410 hours last year as I walked for exercise or went on road trips. I still prefer a human narrator, but I’m getting more open to the AI voices. I guess I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude right now.
Hi, Janice! I think the older we get, the harder it is to accept change. I’m old (ha!) and I’m certainly set in my ways, for sure. AI definitely has its faults, but this whole thing with virtual voice resonated with me. I’m convinced, like it or not, we are on the cusp of the next big thing in the book world. And the good thing is, if someone doesn’t like virtual voice, there are plenty of human narrators out there to be listened to. They won’t be going away anytime soon. Virtual voice audiobooks is just one more tool in an author’s toolbox.
I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude right alongside you. Thanks for stopping by!
Pam, I really like the virtual voice best. It sure sounds like a real person with the right inflections and everything. I think you did a good thing by accepting the invitation. 🙂
I am happy to give it a try. Why not, right? There’s always something new to learn and try in this world.
Thanks, Linda. I don’t think the virtual voice sounds oft-putting at all, either.
I’ve never listened to a whole audio book. I just don’t enjoy them. I read faster than a human can talk because I read phrases and whole sentences not words.
On you examples I found the virtual voice calming but the human voice I fell gave me the excitement and entertainment for which I read.
Good point about reading faster, Connie. I suspect most people don’t take time to enunciate every word in their mind that they read, so our brain tends to skip over the small words and focuses on key phrases. I know I tend to read faster than I should, and then I have to go back and re-read just to make sure I got it all. 🙂 I think the same would be true about listening. Our brain doesn’t catch every word then, either, if we get in the slightest bit distracted. Happens to me all the time. (Just ask my husband. Ha!)
Thanks for stopping by!