Publish: 10:55, 21 Nov, 2024

Microsoft to introduce voice cloning for teams meetings soon

Online Desk
Microsoft to introduce voice cloning for teams meetings soon
Photo - Collected

Microsoft plans to allow Teams users to create voice clones, so their voice can speak to others in meetings in different languages.

At Microsoft Ignite 2024 on Tuesday, the company unveiled Interpreter in Teams, a feature for Microsoft Teams that offers real-time speech-to-speech translation.

From early 2025, Teams users will have the ability to use Interpreter to mimic their voices in nine languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.

“Imagine being able to sound just like you in a different language,” Microsoft CMO Jared Spataro wrote in a blog post shared with TechCrunch. “The Interpreter agent in Teams provides real-time speech-to-speech translation during meetings, and you can opt to have it simulate your speaking voice for a more personal and engaging experience.”

Microsoft gave few concrete details about the feature, which will only be available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. But it did say that the tool doesn’t store any biometric data, doesn’t add sentiments beyond what’s “naturally present” in a voice, and can be disabled through Teams settings.

“Interpreter is designed to replicate the speaker’s message as faithfully as possible without adding assumptions or extraneous information,” a Microsoft spokesperson told TechCrunch. “Voice simulation can only be enabled when users provide consent via a notification during the meeting or by enabling ‘Voice simulation consent’ in settings.”

A number of firms have developed tech to digitally mimic voices that sound reasonably natural. Meta recently said that it’s piloting a translation tool that can automatically translate voices in Instagram Reels, while ElevenLabs offers a robust platform for multilingual speech generation.

AI translations tend to be less lexically rich than those from human interpreters, and AI translators often struggle to accurately convey colloquialisms, analogies and cultural nuances. Yet, the cost savings are attractive enough to make the trade-off worth it for some. According to Markets and Markets, the sector for natural language processing technologies, including translation technologies, could be worth $35.1 billion by 2026.

AI clones also pose security challenges, however.

Deepfakes have spread like wildfire across social media, making it harder to distinguish truth from disinformation. So far this year, deepfakes featuring President Joe Biden, Taylor Swift, and Vice President Kamala Harris have racked up millions of views and reshares.

 Deepfakes have also been used to target individuals, for example by impersonating loved ones. Losses linked to impersonation scams topped $1 billion last year, per the FTC.

Earlier on 2024, a group of cybercriminals allegedly organized a Teams meeting with a company's top executives that was so realistic, the company ended up transferring $25 million to the criminals.

In part due to the risks (and optics), OpenAI earlier on 2024 decided against releasing its voice cloning tech, Voice Engine.

From what’s been revealed so far, Interpreter in Teams is a relatively narrow application of voice cloning. Still, that doesn’t mean the tool will be safe from abuse. One can imagine a bad actor feeding Interpreter a misleading recording — for example, someone asking for bank account information — to get a translation in the language of their target.

Hopefully, we’ll get a better idea of the safeguards Microsoft will add around Interpreter in the months to come.

Source: Tech Crunch

Bd-pratidin English/ Afia

More News
Australia introduces 'Landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia introduces 'Landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16
US regulators seek to break up Google, as part of punishment
US regulators seek to break up Google, as part of punishment
Point Nemo: The Spacecraft graveyard and earth's ultimate isolation
Point Nemo: The Spacecraft graveyard and earth's ultimate isolation
Nokia wins “multi-billion” dollar deal in India
Nokia wins “multi-billion” dollar deal in India
Think twice before uploading your medical data to AI chatbots
Think twice before uploading your medical data to AI chatbots
Lonely dolphin 'talks to itself,' scientists offer two theories
Lonely dolphin 'talks to itself,' scientists offer two theories
Instagram trials feature letting users reset recommendations in online safety push
Instagram trials feature letting users reset recommendations in online safety push
SpaceX fails to repeat Starship booster catch, as Trump watches on
SpaceX fails to repeat Starship booster catch, as Trump watches on
SpaceX launches India’s most advanced satellite
SpaceX launches India’s most advanced satellite
Mysterious robotic dog spotted outside Trump’s house!
Mysterious robotic dog spotted outside Trump’s house!
Casio unveils CRW-001-1JR: a smart ring and smartwatch in one
Casio unveils CRW-001-1JR: a smart ring and smartwatch in one
Apple offers $100m to undo Indonesia’s iPhone 16 ban
Apple offers $100m to undo Indonesia’s iPhone 16 ban
Latest News
Dollar stagnates as market evaluates Trump policies and fed outlook; Bitcoin soars
Dollar stagnates as market evaluates Trump policies and fed outlook; Bitcoin soars

9 minutes ago | Economy

US wants human rights respected in Bangladesh: Spokesperson Miller
US wants human rights respected in Bangladesh: Spokesperson Miller

10 minutes ago | National

'Touch Messi, and it’s a foul; we get nothing'
'Touch Messi, and it’s a foul; we get nothing'

17 minutes ago | Sports

‘Provision of appeal against order of ICT to ensure fair trial’
‘Provision of appeal against order of ICT to ensure fair trial’

17 minutes ago | National

India v Australia: Will it be the final curtain for India’s icons?
India v Australia: Will it be the final curtain for India’s icons?

23 minutes ago | Sports

‘Gangaburi’ concluded celebrating national heritage afloat
‘Gangaburi’ concluded celebrating national heritage afloat

24 minutes ago | Showbiz

Armed Forces Day: Chief Adviser Yunus pays tribute at Shikha Anirban
Armed Forces Day: Chief Adviser Yunus pays tribute at Shikha Anirban

27 minutes ago | National

Is too much calcium from supplements risking your health?
Is too much calcium from supplements risking your health?

39 minutes ago | Lifestyle

Rickshaw drivers block railway line, disrupt communication with Dhaka
Rickshaw drivers block railway line, disrupt communication with Dhaka

44 minutes ago | City

Trump made no mention of Sheikh Hasina's leadership in interview
Trump made no mention of Sheikh Hasina's leadership in interview

49 minutes ago | National

Bangladesh keen to work closely with Trump administration: CA
Bangladesh keen to work closely with Trump administration: CA

52 minutes ago | National

US delegates to reach Dhaka Friday
US delegates to reach Dhaka Friday

53 minutes ago | National

President Shahabuddin recalls Liberation War martyrs on Armed Forces Day
President Shahabuddin recalls Liberation War martyrs on Armed Forces Day

56 minutes ago | National

Jaya Ahsan's ‘Bhootpori’ to screen at IFFI on 25 Nov.
Jaya Ahsan's ‘Bhootpori’ to screen at IFFI on 25 Nov.

1 hour ago | Showbiz

Angela Merkel reveals strategies for dealing with Donald Trump in ‘Memoir’
Angela Merkel reveals strategies for dealing with Donald Trump in ‘Memoir’

1 hour ago | International

It’s one we need to tick off: Hazlewood
It’s one we need to tick off: Hazlewood

1 hour ago | Sports

Australia introduces 'Landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia introduces 'Landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16

1 hour ago | Tech

Bangladesh ready to face West Indies in first test on Friday
Bangladesh ready to face West Indies in first test on Friday

1 hour ago | Sports

US regulators seek to break up Google, as part of punishment
US regulators seek to break up Google, as part of punishment

1 hour ago | Tech

UN decides holding high-level conference on Rohingya next year
UN decides holding high-level conference on Rohingya next year

1 hour ago | International

Jamaat Ameer returns country from UK
Jamaat Ameer returns country from UK

1 hour ago | National

Titanic stars DiCaprio and Winslet reunite at ‘Lee’ screening
Titanic stars DiCaprio and Winslet reunite at ‘Lee’ screening

1 hour ago | Showbiz

Adani charged in US over massive bribery scheme
Adani charged in US over massive bribery scheme

1 hour ago | International

Ukraine reportedly fires UK 'Storm Shadow' missiles into Russia
Ukraine reportedly fires UK 'Storm Shadow' missiles into Russia

2 hours ago | International

Dhaka’s air fourth worst in the world
Dhaka’s air fourth worst in the world

2 hours ago | City

VR training tool to boost surgical skills of ophthalmologists
VR training tool to boost surgical skills of ophthalmologists

2 hours ago | National

Bitcoin tops $95,000 for 1st time
Bitcoin tops $95,000 for 1st time

2 hours ago | Economy

Duct-taped Banana sold for $6.2m in New York!
Duct-taped Banana sold for $6.2m in New York!

2 hours ago | Lifestyle

RAB arrests drug peddler with phensidyl in Shibganj
RAB arrests drug peddler with phensidyl in Shibganj

2 hours ago | National

Microsoft to introduce voice cloning for teams meetings soon
Microsoft to introduce voice cloning for teams meetings soon

2 hours ago | Tech

Most Read
BB issues guidelines for operations of business in country by JVCA
BB issues guidelines for operations of business in country by JVCA

19 hours ago | Economy

10 injured in clashes between Dhaka and City College students
10 injured in clashes between Dhaka and City College students

20 hours ago | City

Armed Forces Day: Traffic restrictions in Dhaka Cantonment today
Armed Forces Day: Traffic restrictions in Dhaka Cantonment today

3 hours ago | City

Facilitate safe, regular migration for skilled human resources
Facilitate safe, regular migration for skilled human resources

22 hours ago | National

Auto-rickshaw drivers protest at Dayaganj over High Court ruling
Auto-rickshaw drivers protest at Dayaganj over High Court ruling

23 hours ago | City

Mother-Son duo creates ‘Dui Shaw’, the sequel to ‘Pett Kata Shaw’
Mother-Son duo creates ‘Dui Shaw’, the sequel to ‘Pett Kata Shaw’

21 hours ago | Showbiz

Japan to monitor China's military activity after Beijing acknowledges airspace violation
Japan to monitor China's military activity after Beijing acknowledges airspace violation

21 hours ago | International

New IGP, DMP commissioner appointed
New IGP, DMP commissioner appointed

17 hours ago | National

New Canadian High Commissioner submits credentials to President
New Canadian High Commissioner submits credentials to President

20 hours ago | National

Nokia wins “multi-billion” dollar deal in India
Nokia wins “multi-billion” dollar deal in India

22 hours ago | Tech

Police chief led July massacre, says chief prosecutor
Police chief led July massacre, says chief prosecutor

23 hours ago | National

Afghan children struggle for a bite of bread as world celebrates Children's Day
Afghan children struggle for a bite of bread as world celebrates Children's Day

22 hours ago | International

Response to Israeli strikes on Beirut will be on ‘central Tel Aviv’: Hezbollah chief
Response to Israeli strikes on Beirut will be on ‘central Tel Aviv’: Hezbollah chief

15 hours ago | International

Bangladesh women eye world cup spot
Bangladesh women eye world cup spot

22 hours ago | Sports

Rizwana for coordination between financial institutions, development partners
Rizwana for coordination between financial institutions, development partners

18 hours ago | National

Train derails in B'Baria, up line services halted
Train derails in B'Baria, up line services halted

21 hours ago | National

16 detained in police operation targeting drug trade
16 detained in police operation targeting drug trade

22 hours ago | City

A banana could fetch up to $1.5m!
A banana could fetch up to $1.5m!

21 hours ago | Lifestyle

RCC adopts massive steps for making green city
RCC adopts massive steps for making green city

23 hours ago | City

Chief prosecutor compares Ziaul Ahsan to Karadzic, the butcher of Bosnia
Chief prosecutor compares Ziaul Ahsan to Karadzic, the butcher of Bosnia

21 hours ago | National

Govt nods draft of ICT Ordinance to penalise political parties
Govt nods draft of ICT Ordinance to penalise political parties

20 hours ago | National

Yemeni forces seize Israeli ship in fresh operation
Yemeni forces seize Israeli ship in fresh operation

5 hours ago | International

Shuvosangho launched campaign on soil fertility and polythene ban in Kalapara
Shuvosangho launched campaign on soil fertility and polythene ban in Kalapara

22 hours ago | Shuvosangho

Education must foster creativity to create entrepreneurs: CA
Education must foster creativity to create entrepreneurs: CA

21 hours ago | National

Border Guard Bangladesh seizes 100,000 yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh seizes 100,000 yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar

20 hours ago | National

AR Rahman's children urge privacy and respect following parents' separation
AR Rahman's children urge privacy and respect following parents' separation

23 hours ago | Showbiz

Gas supply to remain off in several areas of Dhaka Thursday
Gas supply to remain off in several areas of Dhaka Thursday

21 hours ago | City

Saidur Rahman made Health Services Division Secretary
Saidur Rahman made Health Services Division Secretary

20 hours ago | National

5 sentenced to life term for killing minor boy in Narail
5 sentenced to life term for killing minor boy in Narail

19 hours ago | National

Armed Forces to continue collaboration with people to safeguard independence: CA
Armed Forces to continue collaboration with people to safeguard independence: CA

16 hours ago | National