Spotify Buys Startup Sonatic, Which Creates Realistic Voices Using AI
Streaming music service Spotify has acquired artificial intelligence voice company Sonatic. A London-based startup has developed an AI engine to create realistic voices that mimic human voices. Spotify sees potential in turning text into voice to grow listeners on the platform.
Sonatic is building realistic AI-powered voice services for gaming and entertainment environments. Its technology helped create the voice of Val Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick, the actor who is unable to speak due to throat cancer.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The entire Sonantic team will move to Spotify. Sonantic said the integration will allow users to engage with new and more personalized content.
Spotify will use voice technology where consumers can’t immerse themselves in on-screen interaction, like in a car with Car Thing. It is an audio streaming device designed to facilitate the use of Spotify while driving.
One example of how Spotify can use this technology is to provide additional audio suggestions and descriptions to users who are not looking at screens, such as those who drive or listen while performing other activities and cannot look at the screen.
