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"Since Google launched Audio Overview, the first mass-market podcast generator that creates shows from documents and other inputs, just over a year ago, a wave of startups has rushed in, from ElevenLabs to Wondercraft. No studio, no humans at the microphone, not even a recording -- yet out comes a lively podcast, banter and all. Whether based on a legal document or a school handout, AI tools can deliver a state-of-the-art podcast at the click of a mouse."

"A pioneer in this movement is Inception Point AI, which was launched in 2023 and releases about 3,000 podcasts per week with a team of just eight people. The immediate goal is to play the volume game, said Jeanine Wright, Inception's founder and the former number two at leading audio studio Wondery. With each episode costing one dollar to produce, a mere 20 listens is enough to turn a profit."

"Wright gives the example of a "hyper-niche" program about pollen counts in a specific city, heard by a few dozen people that can attract antihistamine advertisers. With the rise of generative AI, many worry about synthetic content of poor quality -- often called "AI slop" -- flooding the internet, particularly social media. Inception mentions AI's role in every episode, a disclosure that generates "very little drop-off" among listener"

Artificial intelligence now enables mass production of podcasts with entirely virtual hosts, removing human microphones and recordings. Google launched Audio Overview, prompting startups like ElevenLabs and Wondercraft to enter the space. AI tools can create lively, banter-filled episodes from documents and inputs at the click of a mouse. Inception Point AI, founded in 2023, releases roughly 3,000 episodes weekly with an eight-person team. Production costs can be as low as one dollar per episode, making profitability possible with only a few dozen listens and enabling hyper-niche shows to attract targeted advertisers. Concerns persist about low-quality "AI slop", though producers disclose synthetic origins.

Read at US AFPNews