Amazon-owned audiobook company, Audible, has introduced a new AI-powered search feature to help users find their next audiobook more easily.
Starting today, select U.S. customers can interact with “Maven,” Audible’s personal recommendation expert that uses AI to provide tailored book suggestions based on specific user requests. Users can simply enter natural language queries, such as “I’m looking for an uplifting fiction novel with a female protagonist,” and Maven will assist in finding the perfect match from Audible’s vast catalog of nearly one million titles.
Maven is accessible on both iOS and Android devices, with around half of Audible’s U.S. customers having access to this feature. However, the feature is currently limited to a subset of the audiobook library, with Audible mentioning that they will continue to enhance Maven over time as it is in the beta stage.
In addition to Maven, Audible is also experimenting with AI-powered curated collections and reviews. This move could be seen as Audible’s response to Spotify’s AI-generated playlists, showcasing the company’s focus on utilizing AI technology to enhance user experience.
Audible has not disclosed the specific AI models powering Maven but mentioned that it leverages the strengths of multiple models and will continuously evaluate and improve them. The company’s use of AI extends to other areas such as AI-narrated audiobooks, which have sparked some controversy among creatives concerned about the impact on traditional audiobook narrators.
Today’s announcement builds upon the recent rise in popularity of AI-narrated audiobooks on Audible, prompting discussions about the future of audiobook narration in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
