TL;DR:
- Artifact, the personalized news app, collaborates with Speechify to launch an advanced AI-powered text-to-speech feature.
- Users can listen to news articles in various natural-sounding voices with customizable accents and audio speeds.
- Celebrity voices of Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow add a unique charm to the experience.
- The app allows multitasking, enabling users to continue browsing while listening to articles.
- Over 30 voices, including fun options, are available for free, with no language restrictions.
- AI-driven updates like headline rewriting and story summarization enhance the user experience.
- Artifact faces competition in the market from various news apps and social media platforms.
- The addition of text-to-speech positions Artifact as a contender against read-it-later apps.
- Despite positive reviews, the app aims for further growth and user adoption.
Main AI News:
In an exciting move to revolutionize the way news is consumed, Artifact, the personalized news app developed by Instagram’s visionary founders, is proud to announce its latest AI-powered innovation. Teaming up with Speechify, the cutting-edge company known for its advancements in speech technology, Artifact introduces a state-of-the-art text-to-speech feature, elevating the user experience to unprecedented levels.
Unlike conventional text-to-speech engines that offer monotonous, robotic voices, Artifact’s new feature offers a captivating array of natural-sounding voices, customizable to the users’ preferences. With the ability to choose different accents and audio speeds, the possibilities are endless. Notably, two iconic celebrity voices, Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow, lend their unique charm to this groundbreaking addition.
Accessing the enhanced feature is effortless. By simply tapping the play button located at the bottom bar of any article, users can select their desired voice, accent, and speed to begin listening. From 0.1x for a soothing pace to 4.5x for swift digestion, the control lies firmly in the hands of the audience, ensuring optimal comfort.
Multitasking enthusiasts will rejoice as Artifact allows seamless browsing while the selected article continues playing in the background. Whether you’re working out, commuting, or handling chores, staying updated with the news has never been easier or more convenient.
The expansive selection of 30+ voices is available completely free of charge, a testament to Artifact’s commitment to delivering top-notch user experiences without hidden fees. While currently exclusive to the English language, users can immerse themselves in a variety of accents, including the U.K., Australia, Nigeria, and South Africa. Moreover, aside from the esteemed contributions of Paltrow and Snoop Dogg, users can also delight in choosing fun voices like “Mr. President,” reminiscent of Obama, or “Dwight,” inspired by “The Office’s” beloved character.
This remarkable addition of AI-powered voices is just one of many strides taken by Artifact since its highly successful public launch in February 2023. By incorporating artificial intelligence into its framework, the app has been able to rewrite clickbait headlines using its GPT-4 model, ensuring an authentic and informative experience for its users. Summarizing stories using AI, and offering playful styles like “explain like I’m five” or emojis, further demonstrates Artifact’s dedication to catering to diverse preferences.
Artifact’s AI-driven recommendation systems have also played a pivotal role in personalizing content for individual users. Utilizing insightful factors such as clicks, reading time, dwell time, and shares, the app ensures a tailored newsfeed that aligns perfectly with users’ interests.
As a prominent player in the fiercely competitive news app market, Artifact faces rivals like ByteDance’s Toutiao, SmartNews from Japan, and News Break, a personalized news reader with Chinese origins. Notably, in the United States, it competes with inbuilt news apps on Apple and Google smartphones and popular social media platforms like TikTok.
With the integration of the groundbreaking text-to-speech feature, Artifact sets its sights on challenging read-it-later apps like Pocket, Matter, and Instapaper, enriching the experience of news consumption beyond traditional reading.
The user response to Artifact has been overwhelmingly positive, evidenced by its impressive 4.7-star rating across 4.3K reviews on the U.S. App Store. Despite its remarkable success, the app is determined to reach even greater heights, currently positioned at No. 124 in the News category.
Conclusion:
Artifact’s strategic integration of AI-powered text-to-speech voices, featuring renowned celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow, is a significant move in redefining the news consumption landscape. By offering natural-sounding voices with personalized accents and speeds, the app aims to provide a seamless and captivating experience for its users. The addition of AI-driven updates, such as headline rewriting and story summarization, further enhances user engagement. As Artifact faces competition from other news apps and social media platforms, the text-to-speech feature positions it as a strong contender against read-it-later apps. With a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, Artifact seeks to expand its user base and solidify its position in the market.
