Storytel announced Partnership with ElevenLabs
Storytel, the world’s largest audiobook streaming subscription services Platform, has announced an exclusive partnership with a leading AI speech software provider ElevenLabs. The collaboration is set to involve the development of AI voices tailored to Storytel’s core markets and the production of AI-narrated audiobooks. As a new feature, Storytel will launch a VoiceSwitcher that will allow enhanced personalization of their service at scale, enabling unique listening experiences customized for every user.
ElevenLabs, a US-based company founded in 2022, has quickly become a global leader in AI voice technology research, developing compelling AI speech software for publishers and creators. Johan Ståhle, Chief Product Officer at Storytel, expressed excitement about this multi-year agreement, stating that the advancements in AI voices have made them more sophisticated and versatile. He highlighted that Storytel aims to offer its customers more choices by deploying this best-in-class solution. Furthermore, synthetic voices are expected to enable significant reductions in production costs for both publishers and Storytel, thus allowing for a richer and more diverse range of audiobook titles and genres to be produced in more languages.
The partnership will kick off this summer with the pilot launch of the Storytel VoiceSwitcher feature for select audiobooks in English. The VoiceSwitcher will allow Storytel users to seamlessly switch between a selection of first-class AI voices and organic human narration. Before the end of the year, Storytel plans to add support for Swedish and Danish AI voices and expand the VoiceSwitcher functionality to additional markets.
Storytel has also committed to a focused strategic investment in ElevenLabs’ ongoing financing round, further deepening its commitment and collaborative role in the AI field. Mati Staniszewski, CEO of Eleven Labs, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that both companies share a passion for bringing the world’s best audio stories to a global audience. The collaboration aims to revolutionize the implementation of AI solutions that enhance the work of publishers and creators and allow users to personalize their listening experience like never before.
Storytel offers more than a million titles on a global scale and operates in over 25 markets with the vision to make the world a more empathetic and creative place, where great stories can be shared and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, and anytime.
