The growth of audiobooks and the impact of AI.

For about two years now, the audiobook market has been experiencing rapid growth and is increasingly sought after by readers. Capitalizing on this trend, publishers are increasing the production of audiobooks, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) applications to create many of these products.

Báo Cần Thơ•30/08/2025

The audiobook library on Audible is popular with many readers.

A 2024 NielsenIQ Bookdata report indicates that over half of Australian audiobook listeners have increased their spending over the past five years. The American Publishers Association reports that audiobook sales in the US increased by 13% between 2023 and 2024. In the UK, audiobook growth reached 31%. Recognizing the potential for continued growth in the audiobook market, producers are investing heavily in this sector. To shorten production time, reduce costs, and deliver works to readers faster, producers and technology companies are applying AI to audiobook production.

In May 2025, Amazon launched Audible (a platform that converts ebooks into audiobooks using virtual voice technology), featuring over 100 AI voice models in a variety of languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Audible's features also allow users to self-publish their audiobooks. Tens of thousands of audiobooks are already available on Audible. Meanwhile, Apple and Spotify have launched audiobook libraries using AI-powered voices. Audible Studios continues to recruit voice actors to meet the diverse needs of its readers and expand its language offerings.

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The use of AI in audiobook production offers numerous benefits. Publishers can save on voice-over costs, speed up production, and easily translate books into multiple languages thanks to translation technology. For independent authors, the benefits of using AI are even greater. They don't need to spend a lot of money on production, nor do they need to find publishers and distributors. They can produce their own works and deliver them to readers with the support of AI.

However, the mass production of AI-powered audiobooks raises concerns about quality. Annabelle Tudor, who has lent her voice to over 40 audiobooks, argues that the instinct for storytelling is what makes the art of reading so original and precious, something that AI cannot replicate. While AI-powered audiobooks are produced in large quantities, they will lack uniqueness, especially in terms of emotional experience. Dorje Swallow, who has recorded over 70 audiobooks, shares this view, stating that emotion and storytelling skills are essential to attract readers to audiobooks.

Simon Kennedy, President of the Voice Actors Association of Australia, shared that actors often spend many hours recording for audiobooks. They spend time reading beforehand to understand the characters, the spirit, and the rhythm of the book. The recording process is not simple; on average, for a one-hour audiobook, they spend two or three times as much time, or even more, to complete the recording. Every word and sentence spoken by the voice actor carries emotion, which makes it different from audiobooks created by AI with "Google voices." Therefore, audiobooks possess the unique quality of each actor's voice, creating appeal for readers. However, Simon Kennedy also expressed concern because voice cloning technology is currently being tested. In the context of unclear regulations regarding voice ownership, actors could inadvertently lose resources if they allow AI to use their voices.