This could be pretty amazing.
As part of its preview of forthcoming iOS 17 accessibility updates due later this year, Apple has announced a pair of new features called Live Speech and Personal Voice. Live Speech allows users to type what they want to say and have it be spoken out.
The Personal Voice feature, interestingly enough, allows users who are at risk of losing their ability to speak to create and save a voice that sounds like them. Apple says it’s designed for people at risk of losing their ability to speak, such as those with a recent diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
Apple has offered the following description of the Live Speech feature:
With Live Speech on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can type what they want to say to have it be spoken out loud during phone and FaceTime calls as well as in-person conversations. Users can also save commonly used phrases to chime in quickly during lively conversation with family, friends, and colleagues. Live Speech has been designed to support millions of people globally who are unable to speak or who have lost their speech over time.
Apple has stated that using the Personal Voice feature, users will be prompted to read along with a randomized set of text prompts to record 15 minutes of audio on iPhone or iPad. Using on-device machine learning, the iPhone or iPad can then create a voice that sounds like them.
The voice feature can then integrate with Live Speech, allowing users to speak using their Personal Voice in FaceTime calls and other conversations.
Apple says that these new accessibility features will start rolling out later this year. In addition to Live Speech and Personal Voice, Apple has announced a number of other new accessibility features as well.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac