PodCastle, an AI-powered podcast platform, is seeking to transform the landscape of content creation by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools. In an interview with The U.S. Sun, CEO and founder Artavazd Yeritsyan outlined the company’s mission to simplify the content creation process and make it accessible to all. By leveraging AI, PodCastle allows users to record audio and video, and then utilize AI to make adjustments such as removing pauses, cutting out words, or enhancing quality. The platform even offers voice cloning and text-to-speech functions.

However, the use of AI in voice cloning remains a contentious issue. Critics raise concerns about the origins of the vast datasets used to train AI models. Tech giants like Meta have faced scrutiny for scraping data from public social media profiles to train their AI systems, prompting inquiries into data privacy. Additionally, there are fears of potential misuse of voice cloning technology, as it can be exploited for fraudulent activities such as vishing attacks, where scammers impersonate individuals by replicating their voices.

To address these concerns, PodCastle has implemented safeguards to prevent the creation of deepfakes or synthetic audio that misrepresents someone’s speech. Yeritsyan emphasized the platform’s commitment to ethical and safe practices, requiring users to record specific sentences to verify their identity and encrypting content to protect against hacking.

Despite the controversies surrounding AI, Yeritsyan remains optimistic about the technology’s potential for good. He envisions voice cloning technology benefiting people with disabilities, enabling them to use text-to-speech functions to share content. Yeritsyan also advocates for AI education to promote responsible usage. PodCastle offers discounted subscriptions to students, recognizing the likelihood of similar tools being utilized in future job roles.

While some argue that AI may lead to job losses, Yeritsyan believes it can create new opportunities and streamline processes, such as the addition of subtitles on streaming platforms. However, concerns persist regarding the ethical implications of training AI models on copyrighted content without proper attribution and the potential for misinformation generated by AI tools.