- In November 2023, Microsoft announced the public preview of Azure AI Speech, an advanced technology that empowers users to create lifelike talking avatar videos from text input and develop real-time, interactive bots using human-like digital representations. This innovation marks a significant advancement in the field of synthetic media and conversational AI, aligning with the rapid growth of the global Text-To-Speech (TTS) market. As demand increases for personalized, scalable voice solutions across industries such as education, entertainment, healthcare, and customer service, Azure AI Speech positions Microsoft as a key player in shaping the next generation of AI-driven voice and avatar technologies
- In January 2023, Microsoft introduced VALL-E, a groundbreaking language model-based approach to text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis. This novel method employs audio codec codes as intermediate representations and is capable of mimicking an individual's voice with high fidelity after analyzing just three seconds of recorded audio. The launch of VALL-E represents a major leap forward in voice synthesis technology, significantly enhancing personalization and efficiency within the global Text-To-Speech market
- In January 2023, Amazon Polly expanded its US English voice offerings by introducing two new neural voices: Ruth, a female voice, and Stephen, a male voice. With this update, the US English portfolio now includes a total of six female and four male neural voices. This enhancement reflects Amazon's ongoing commitment to advancing natural-sounding speech synthesis and meeting diverse user needs. As demand for more expressive and human-like TTS solutions continues to grow globally, particularly in sectors such as e-learning, customer service, and assistive technologies
- In March 2022, Microsoft Corporation announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Nuance Communications Inc., a global leader in conversational AI and ambient intelligence, with a strong presence across sectors such as healthcare, financial services, retail, and telecommunications. This acquisition significantly enhances Microsoft’s capabilities in voice-driven technologies, bolstering its position in the rapidly expanding global Text-To-Speech (TTS) market
- In December 2020, IBM introduced Watson Discovery, an AI-driven intelligent search and text analytics platform designed to dismantle data silos and uncover insights buried deep within enterprise systems. Leveraging advanced, industry-leading natural language processing (NLP) capabilities, the platform extracts meaningful business intelligence from documents, web content, and vast datasets—reducing research time by up to 75%. While Watson Discovery primarily focuses on text analytics, its NLP foundation plays a critical role in enhancing the global Text-To-Speech (TTS) market
