Spotify Starts Testing AI-Powered Voice Translation for Podcasts

Spotify is leveraging new voice generation technology from OpenAI to test voice translation for select podcasts recorded in English. The goal is to make this content available in more languages and in a voice that matches the original speaker’s style, no traditional dubbing required.

In recent years, Spotify invested a lot in podcasts and it also teamed up with content creators to create exclusive content for the platforms. This didn’t really help to make Spotify the best place to listen to podcasts, even though the company claims that it now has 100 million users regularly listening to podcasts on Spotify. However, if the company manages to make this content available in more languages, this could become a big competitive advantage over time.

“By matching the creator’s own voice, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way than ever before,” says Ziad Sultan, VP of Personalization. “We believe that a thoughtful approach to AI can help build deeper connections between listeners and creators, a key component of Spotify’s mission to unlock the potential of human creativity.”

The first podcasts included in Spotify’s Voice Translation pilot program are the Lex Fridman Podcast, Armchair Expert, and The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett. Select episodes of these podcasts are now available in Spanish, with French and German translations to follow in the coming days and weeks.

For now, Voice-translated episodes are available for both free and Premium users, and you can find them in the dedicated Voice Translations hub to find them. Spotify says that it’s already working to bring more shows on board including Dax Shepard’s eff won with DRS, The Rewatchables from The Ringer, and an upcoming original podcast from comedian Trevor Noah that’s set to launch later this year