We have been obeying machines voice
instructions through answering machines, telephones, banking systems, ATM
machines etc. It has been one way communications as we were always in the “listening
end”. But then came Siri along and usehered in yet another Apple initiated makeover to our world. At the beginning, both Google and Microsoft
ridiculed Apple’s idea of voice assistant but both companies quickly dropped their objections and copied Apple. The rest
is history as they say!
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning is increasingly
becoming the backbone of everything from self-driving car to virtual
assistants. Recently Google’s Sundar Pichai had demonstrated how google
assistant could fix a saloon’s appointment or secure a restaurant reservation. If
you have read Dan Brown’s latest book, “The Origin”, then you have already met
Winston and experienced his prowess.
Susan Bennett has been talking for the machines for decades. She has spoken for ATM machines, airlines, movies and list will go on. In this interview she explains how she has recorded for 4 hours for a period of a month without having any clue that she would end up becoming the voice for Siri. Jennifer Lee Taylor, an American voice actress has given her voice to Microsoft’s Cortana. Similar to Susan, Jen too recorded short sentences over a period of time. Now the machines synthesizes those short sentences to form their answers for whatever questions that we might ask.
One day in the near future, a rogue machine would coerce you
to lend your voice. Then synthesize that to form sentences of its own to take
over your family, your friends and finally your life. Someone might be already
recording your telephone conversations secretly for that very purpose.
