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I'm honestly surprised that anybody could mistake the Lyrebird generated voices for something real. It's got this weird buzzy noise about it which sticks right

I'm honestly surprised that anybody could mistake the Lyrebird generated voices for something real. It's got this weird buzzy noise about it which sticks right out to my ear, and only a little bit of noticeable influence from the author's voice. Either some people are much worse at perceiving this than I'd expect, or the article is hyping up something which just doesn't deserve that level of hype - yet.

hortonew 9y ago
I think the author had a little over-the-top reaction of "it’s time to unplug everything, chuck my phone, don a tinfoil hat, and move to the woods." The buzzing and computer-created audio was immediately noticed. I also consider myself very good at noticing sound differences, but I think that's beside the point in this case.
- brlewis 9y ago
  It isn't hard for them to hold onto the training audio to use with later versions of the AI. Assuming, of course, that the buzzing and other flaws weren't added to lull you into a false sense of security.
agarden 9y ago
People with phonagnosia are incapable of recognizing anyone's voice. If it is like face-blindness, then probably there is a spectrum of ability to recognize voices, and so what sounds obviously computerish to you might be indistinguishable from the real thing to someone else. https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/voice-recognition-apparently-not-a-universal-human-skill.html https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/voice-recognition-apparently-...
- camtarn 9y ago
  The thing is - I find it almost impossible to recognise peoples' voices on the phone, unless they have a particularly distinctive voice - usually the accent is the distinguishing factor. But I think I'd get this straight away, even over the phone. Maybe something to do with being a (very amateur) music producer, though.
oxguy3 9y ago
You can definitely tell which one's the AI, but if you weren't particularly paying attention on, say, a phone call (where you're used to bad audio quality anyway), you might not immediately notice.
- markbnj 9y ago
  I can't speak for anyone else but I would recognize that as software-generated instantaneously. It's unmistakable imo, and actually sounds significantly worse than, for example, these samples from Google's Tactotron 2 system: http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/12/28/googles-new-text-speech-system-sounds-convincingly-human/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/12/28/googles-new-text-spe...
  - woodson 9y ago
    Would you be able to tell the difference on a GSM cell phone call?
    - markbnj 9y ago
      Mmm, I think so yes. The voice had a distinctly artificial character imo.

hortonew 9y ago

I think the author had a little over-the-top reaction of "it’s time to unplug everything, chuck my phone, don a tinfoil hat, and move to the woods." The buzzing and computer-created audio was immediately noticed. I also consider myself very good at noticing sound differences, but I think that's beside the point in this case.

brlewis 9y ago
It isn't hard for them to hold onto the training audio to use with later versions of the AI. Assuming, of course, that the buzzing and other flaws weren't added to lull you into a false sense of security.

agarden 9y ago

People with phonagnosia are incapable of recognizing anyone's voice. If it is like face-blindness, then probably there is a spectrum of ability to recognize voices, and so what sounds obviously computerish to you might be indistinguishable from the real thing to someone else. https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/voice-recognition-apparently-not-a-universal-human-skill.html https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/voice-recognition-apparently-...

camtarn 9y ago
The thing is - I find it almost impossible to recognise peoples' voices on the phone, unless they have a particularly distinctive voice - usually the accent is the distinguishing factor. But I think I'd get this straight away, even over the phone. Maybe something to do with being a (very amateur) music producer, though.

oxguy3 9y ago

You can definitely tell which one's the AI, but if you weren't particularly paying attention on, say, a phone call (where you're used to bad audio quality anyway), you might not immediately notice.

markbnj 9y ago
I can't speak for anyone else but I would recognize that as software-generated instantaneously. It's unmistakable imo, and actually sounds significantly worse than, for example, these samples from Google's Tactotron 2 system: http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/12/28/googles-new-text-speech-system-sounds-convincingly-human/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/12/28/googles-new-text-spe...
- woodson 9y ago
  Would you be able to tell the difference on a GSM cell phone call?
  - markbnj 9y ago
    Mmm, I think so yes. The voice had a distinctly artificial character imo.