ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "AI with Shaily: How Spoken Language Models Are Making AI Voices Human"
Episode Synopsis
Welcome to "AI with Shaily," your weekly journey into the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence, hosted by Shailendra Kumar, a passionate guide exploring the intersection where machines meet human speech in increasingly natural ways. 🎙️🤖
Shailendra takes us through the evolution of AI voice assistants, highlighting how early versions sounded robotic and scripted, lacking emotion and fluidity. Today, thanks to advancements in spoken language models (SLMs), AI systems now learn directly from human speech. This means they not only understand words but also the emotional and social nuances behind them, making conversations feel more authentic and engaging. 🗣️✨
A major breakthrough discussed is KAIST’s SpeechSSM, introduced in July. Shailendra recalls how earlier AI struggled with long-form speech—like podcasts or audiobooks—often becoming unnatural or silent after a few minutes. SpeechSSM revolutionizes this by using an efficient linear sequence model that allows AI to handle extended speech seamlessly, enabling continuous, natural narration. This advancement is a game-changer for anyone seeking smooth, lifelike AI voice experiences. 📚🎧
Shortly after, the Soul app released a full-duplex voice model, another impressive innovation. This model masters the timing and emotional rhythm of human conversations, allowing AI to decide when to speak or pause, mimicking natural human interaction. It even captures stammers, laughs, filler words, and subtle emotional cues, making AI participation in multi-person chats feel genuinely human. Shailendra, with his personal experience of awkward pauses and quick exchanges, finds this development both fascinating and hopeful for future AI dialogues. 🗨️😄⏸️
He poses a thought-provoking question: if AI voices become indistinguishable from humans, how will that affect our trust and comfort in daily interactions with machines? 🤔💬
As a bonus tip, Shailendra encourages listeners to try AI voice tools that support long-form content or multi-person conversations to truly appreciate the difference SLMs make—where AI doesn’t just speak but truly “converses” like a friend. 👫🎤
Looking ahead, Shailendra emphasizes that spoken language models are not just enhancing entertainment and communication; they hold promise for culturally sensitive healthcare applications and bridging language barriers, making a real-world impact. 🌍❤️🩺
He closes with a nod to Alan Turing’s wisdom about the vast work ahead in AI, reminding us that the journey of SLMs is just beginning and full of exciting possibilities. 🚀🔍
Don’t forget to follow Shailendra Kumar on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium under "AI with Shaily" for ongoing updates. He invites you to subscribe, share your thoughts, and imagine how AI voices might shape your future interactions. 📲👍
Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, keep curious and keep innovating. This is Shailendra Kumar signing off from AI with Shaily. 👋💡
Shailendra takes us through the evolution of AI voice assistants, highlighting how early versions sounded robotic and scripted, lacking emotion and fluidity. Today, thanks to advancements in spoken language models (SLMs), AI systems now learn directly from human speech. This means they not only understand words but also the emotional and social nuances behind them, making conversations feel more authentic and engaging. 🗣️✨
A major breakthrough discussed is KAIST’s SpeechSSM, introduced in July. Shailendra recalls how earlier AI struggled with long-form speech—like podcasts or audiobooks—often becoming unnatural or silent after a few minutes. SpeechSSM revolutionizes this by using an efficient linear sequence model that allows AI to handle extended speech seamlessly, enabling continuous, natural narration. This advancement is a game-changer for anyone seeking smooth, lifelike AI voice experiences. 📚🎧
Shortly after, the Soul app released a full-duplex voice model, another impressive innovation. This model masters the timing and emotional rhythm of human conversations, allowing AI to decide when to speak or pause, mimicking natural human interaction. It even captures stammers, laughs, filler words, and subtle emotional cues, making AI participation in multi-person chats feel genuinely human. Shailendra, with his personal experience of awkward pauses and quick exchanges, finds this development both fascinating and hopeful for future AI dialogues. 🗨️😄⏸️
He poses a thought-provoking question: if AI voices become indistinguishable from humans, how will that affect our trust and comfort in daily interactions with machines? 🤔💬
As a bonus tip, Shailendra encourages listeners to try AI voice tools that support long-form content or multi-person conversations to truly appreciate the difference SLMs make—where AI doesn’t just speak but truly “converses” like a friend. 👫🎤
Looking ahead, Shailendra emphasizes that spoken language models are not just enhancing entertainment and communication; they hold promise for culturally sensitive healthcare applications and bridging language barriers, making a real-world impact. 🌍❤️🩺
He closes with a nod to Alan Turing’s wisdom about the vast work ahead in AI, reminding us that the journey of SLMs is just beginning and full of exciting possibilities. 🚀🔍
Don’t forget to follow Shailendra Kumar on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium under "AI with Shaily" for ongoing updates. He invites you to subscribe, share your thoughts, and imagine how AI voices might shape your future interactions. 📲👍
Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, keep curious and keep innovating. This is Shailendra Kumar signing off from AI with Shaily. 👋💡
More episodes of the podcast AI with Shaily
Inside the Fast-Paced World of AI Processing
01/11/2025
In God we trust