LW - Introducing AI-Powered Audiobooks of Rational Fiction Classics by Askwho

The Nonlinear Library: LessWrong

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Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Introducing AI-Powered Audiobooks of Rational Fiction Classics, published by Askwho on May 4, 2024 on LessWrong. (ElevenLabs reading of this post:) I'm excited to share a project I've been working on that I think many in the Lesswrong community will appreciate - converting some rational fiction into high-quality audiobooks using cutting-edge AI voice technology from ElevenLabs, under the name "Askwho Casts AI". The keystone of this project is an audiobook version of Planecrash (AKA Project Lawful), the epic glowfic authored by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Lintamande. Given the scope and scale of this work, with its large cast of characters, I'm using ElevenLabs to give each character their own distinct voice. It's a labor of love to convert this audiobook version of this story, and I hope if anyone has bounced off it before, this might be a more accessible version. Alongside Planecrash, I'm also working on audiobook versions of two other rational fiction favorites: Luminosity by Alicorn (to be followed by its sequel Radiance) Animorphs: The Reckoning by Duncan Sabien I'm also putting out a feed where I convert any articles I find interesting, a lot of which are in the Rat Sphere. My goal with this project is to make some of my personal favorite rational stories more accessible by allowing people to enjoy them in audiobook format. I know how powerful these stories can be, and I want to help bring them to a wider audience and to make them easier for existing fans to re-experience. I wanted to share this here on Lesswrong to connect with others who might find value in these audiobooks. If you're a fan of any of these stories, I'd love to get your thoughts and feedback! And if you know other aspiring rationalists who might enjoy them, please help spread the word. What other classic works of rational fiction would you love to see converted into AI audiobooks? Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org