All iPhones will soon be able to speak with your voice
In a cool new update, Apple has announced that you’ll soon be able to hear your iPhone or iPad speak with your voice by the end of the year.
‘Personal Voice’ is one of a number of new software features for cognitive accessibility, speech, vision and mobility that the tech giant previewed on Tuesday 16 May.
The next feature will display random text prompts to generate 15 minutes of audio and capture your voice.
The ‘Live Speech’ tool will allow users to save commonly used phrases for the device to speak for them during FaceTime calls as well as in-person conversations.
While these will be fun features for many of us to play with, the software will provide a lifeline to those who otherwise struggle to communicate.
Live Speech allows non-speaking individuals to press to speak during calls and chats, while those at risk of losing their ability to speak can use Personal Voice to create a synthesized voice that sounds like them to connect with friends and family.
The company pointed to conditions where people are at risk of losing their ability to speak – to illustrate the need for the technology.
Apple says the features will use machine learning, a type of AI, to create the voice on the device rather than externally, allowing user data to be secure and private.
