Tech News Summary:
- Apple is introducing a new feature called Personal Voice in iOS 17 that can clone a user’s voice in just 15 minutes.
- Personal Voice allows users to store their voices on their device and use them with another new feature called Live Speech that converts typed text into the user’s cloned voice in real-time.
- Apple’s intent behind this innovation is to improve accessibility for people with speech difficulties or those diagnosed with ALS who may one day be challenged with losing their voice.
In a shocking announcement from Apple, the new iOS update will feature a terrifying new technology: voice cloning. This new feature will allow users to make their voice sound like anyone they choose, raising concerns about cyberbullying, identity theft, and potential misuse by malicious users.
The technology works by analyzing a user’s voice and then using machine learning to create a model of that voice. Once the model is created, users can go on to manipulate and tweak it in order to make it sound like someone else.
Many experts are concerned about the potential for harm that this technology could cause. With voice cloning, someone could easily impersonate another person, leading to all sorts of problems. For example, a scammer could use this technology to impersonate a reputable person, gaining trust and access to sensitive information. Similarly, a cyberbully could use this technology to impersonate a victim, causing all sorts of emotional and psychological harm.
Concerns have also been raised about the potential for this technology to be used by authoritarian governments to further control and suppress dissent. With voice cloning, it would be possible to create fake recordings of individuals saying things they never actually said, which could then be used against them.
Apple has stated that they are aware of the potential risks of this technology and are taking steps to mitigate them. They claim that the technology will only be available to users who explicitly opt-in, and that they will be closely monitoring how it is used.
Despite these assurances, many are still uneasy about the introduction of this technology. While it may have some legitimate uses, the potential for abuse is simply too great to ignore. It remains to be seen how this technology will be used, and what kinds of consequences it will ultimately have.