#AI Voice Generators Market

[cybersecurityict]

AI Voice Generators Market Size, Share, Analysis, Forecast, and Growth Trends to 2032: Technological Advancements Driving Expansion

The AI Voice Generators Market was valued at USD 3.20 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 40.25 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 32.51% from 2024-2032.

The AI Voice Generators Market is undergoing rapid transformation driven by advancements in machine learning, neural networks, and speech synthesis technologies. These systems are increasingly adopted across sectors like entertainment, e-learning, customer service, and healthcare to enhance user engagement and streamline communication. With the rise in demand for personalized and natural-sounding voiceovers, AI voice generators are becoming an essential tool for content creators, enterprises, and developers alike. Their ability to deliver human-like intonation, emotion, and contextual understanding is reshaping the digital voice landscape.

AI Voice Generators Market is also witnessing a surge in innovation through multilingual capabilities and real-time voice synthesis, opening new opportunities for global scalability. These tools are revolutionizing how brands interact with their customers by offering hyper-personalized experiences in dynamic environments. The integration of AI voices in smart devices, virtual assistants, and accessibility technologies further strengthens the market's foothold as voice interfaces become integral to digital ecosystems.

Get Sample Copy of This Report: https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/5985 

Market Keyplayers:

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (Amazon Polly, AWS Lex)

Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco Webex, Cisco Kinetic)

ElevenLabs (Eleven Voice, Eleven Text-to-Speech)

Google LLC (Google Cloud Text-to-Speech, Google Assistant)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM Watson Text to Speech, IBM Cloud)

Inworld AI (Inworld AI Voice, Inworld AI Integration)

Microsoft (Azure Speech, Microsoft Cognitive Services)

OpenAI (ChatGPT, OpenAI Codex)

Resemble AI (Resemble Voice, Resemble API)

SoundHound AI Inc. (SoundHound, Houndify)

NVIDIA (NVIDIA Riva, NVIDIA Jarvis)

Meta (Meta AI, Facebook AI)

Voicemod (Voicemod Voice Changer, Voicemod Studio)

Descript (Overdub, Descript Studio)

Simplified (Text-to-Speech, AI Writer)

Soundful (Soundful Music Generator, Soundful Voice AI)

DeepBrain AI (DeepBrain AI Speech Synthesis, DeepBrain AI Voice Cloning)

Baidu, Inc. (Baidu Deep Voice, Baidu Apollo)

Samsung Group (Samsung Bixby, Samsung Speech SDK)

Synthesia (Synthesia Studio, Synthesia AI Video)

Speechelo (Speechelo TTS, Speechelo Pro)

Cerence Inc. (Cerence Voice, Cerence AI Assistant)

WellSaid Labs (WellSaid TTS, WellSaid Studio)

CereProc Ltd. (CereVoice, CerePro)

Listnr AI (Listnr AI Voice, Listnr AI API)

Respeecher (Respeecher Voice Cloning, Respeecher Speech Synthesis)

Speechki (Speechki Voice, Speechki TTS)

Market Analysis

The market is characterized by a growing ecosystem of startups and tech giants investing in cutting-edge voice AI models. The increasing need for efficient audio production, combined with cost and time savings, is pushing businesses to adopt these solutions at scale. North America leads in adoption due to technological readiness, while Asia-Pacific is emerging as a fast-growing hub driven by digital transformation in regional languages.

Market Trends

Surge in demand for text-to-speech (TTS) solutions in content localization and dubbing

Rising use of AI-generated voices in audiobooks, podcasts, and video narration

Integration of voice cloning and synthetic speech in customer support automation

Advancements in emotion-driven voice generation for immersive experiences

Increased emphasis on ethical voice synthesis and identity protection

Expansion of real-time voice translation for cross-border communication

Growing partnerships between AI voice startups and media production companies

Market Scope

The AI Voice Generators Market spans a wide array of applications across sectors such as media & entertainment, telecommunications, e-learning, healthcare, retail, and automotive. These solutions are being integrated into mobile apps, smart devices, virtual assistants, and accessibility tools to improve user interaction and inclusivity. From enabling voice accessibility in education for differently-abled users to enriching gaming experiences with real-time narration, the market is evolving to support diverse and scalable use cases.

Market Forecast

The market is expected to continue on a strong growth trajectory as demand for high-quality, scalable voice synthesis solutions accelerates. Emerging innovations in generative AI models and neural TTS systems are anticipated to reduce latency, improve naturalness, and support more nuanced speech outputs. The future landscape will see more real-time, multilingual, and emotionally intelligent voices embedded into business ecosystems, driving more engaging, inclusive, and automated interactions.

Access Complete Report: https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/ai-voice-generators-market-5985 

Conclusion

As digital content and conversational interfaces dominate the future of communication, the AI Voice Generators Market stands at the forefront of this revolution. Its evolution is not just about speaking with machines—it's about making machines speak like us. In a world craving faster, smarter, and more relatable voice-driven experiences, AI voice technology is setting the stage for a more connected and human-centric future.

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.

Contact Us:

Jagney Dave - Vice President of Client Engagement

Phone: +1-315 636 4242 (US) | +44- 20 3290 5010 (UK)

[dextine]

What is going onnnnn

[niggadiffusion]

AI Tools for Crafting a Creative Brand: A Fresh Perspective

In today’s fast-paced digital world, creative entrepreneurs face the exhilarating task of carving out a brand identity that speaks to their audience. The rise of generative AI tools has turned this process on its head, offering a new kind of innovation that boosts creativity while simplifying brand development. For creative ventures like Majik Ink Creations, these tools aren’t just…

[nnctales]

Why AI is SEO Friendly for Writing?

Today, where content reigns supreme, mastering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential for anyone looking to increase their online visibility. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the writing process has undergone a significant transformation, making it easier to produce SEO-friendly content. This article delves into how AI enhances SEO writing, supported by examples and…

[cool-wilson-david]

ContentReelAI Premium by Abhi Dwivedi Review

ContentReelAI Premium by Abhi Dwivedi – Our In House A.I. IS A True Machine Learning Program. We’ve Fed It With An Incredible Amount Of Data And Continue To Improve It Month In And Month Out. ContentReelAI Premium by Abhi Dwivedi. Gather Attention, Build A Following & Get Paid. Free Commercial License – Sell Your Video Creations For Profit. No Fussing With Hard To Use Software. Newbie and…

[s1ld3n4f1l]

like the thing is i can understand and support the "ai art is bad because it takes away jobs" if it wasnt that they JUST cared about ai art. like i wouldnt even mind if they didnt care UNTIL it threatened artists but they dont care about any other jobs being taken away by ai NOW. like say that magically tomorrow all ai art generation blows up and gets wiped out completely and we cant recreate it ever. will you celebrate and then completely forget about ai? or will you care about the taxi drivers and bus drivers and truckers and mail workers and delivery drivers who lose their jobs to self-driving cars?

[everythingforhealth]

"6500 Voice-Controlled AI Bots Converge in One Place"

[kayawolfhorse]

Tall Claims TV

Full list of faux-news headings from the Mumbo vs Hermitcraft case!

Record Sales Down After Players Discover /playsound Trick

Rich&Rich Gets Record Bonuses Despite Losing Customer Funds

Permit Office Closed from December to June for Christmas

Snow Begins to Fall as Xisuma Forgets to Run ‘No Rain’ Command

AI Chat Bot Found to be Lonely Man With a Redstone Keyboard

Mined Worker in Hospital After Proving ‘Water is Safe to Drink’

Diamond Inflation at All Time High as Doc Builds Another T-Bore

Bop and Go Jingle Still Topping Charts, World Tour Announced

Neck Roll Parrot Dance Goes Viral on Brick-Tok

Gem-M is Ditching Voice Chat and Would Rather Message Instead

Shopping District Portal Deemed ‘Ugly Beautiful’ by Poll

Etho Upgrades Tissue Box to a Washed Takeaway Container

Globe Earthers ‘Still Believe’ Despite Farlands Expedition

Moon Size Report: Still the Same (Thank Goodness)

Netherite Out of Style as Youth Opt for Less Flashy Brands

Independent Study Finds Thumb Shifting to be Optimal

Increase Arm Muscle 33.3% With One Simple Click! Story at 10

Big News: TV Caption Writers Would Like More Pay, Says Everyone

Older Minecrafters Say New Generations Have it Easy

Villagerian is the Most Hostile Language, According to Poll

Surplus Mega Corp. Says ‘Air Quality is Better Than Ever’

New Zombie Flesh Diet Guarantees Fast Results

Hacker Infiltrates Ender Chest Network—Items Lost

Engineers Add 5th tick to Repeater, Public Still Uninterested

‘Is That Sheep Looking At You?’ New Show by MineFlex

How Many is Too Many? Asks TV Caption Writers

Leaving Floating Trees Named Biggest ‘Ick’ by Gen-M

Blockympic Gold Medalist Banned After Failed Speed Potion Test

Pig Kills Owner After 20th ride Without Getting Carrot

New Smart Watch Puts F3 on Your Wrist

Wart Epidemic Caused by Irresponsible Marketing Campaign

New Study Finds 91% of Players Don’t Understand Comparators

Kelp Powered Furnaces Recommended to Fight Climate Change

Research Finds We do Not Live in a Simulation

Skyscraper Firm Lobbies Government for Increased Build Height

Copper Voted Best Block in Minecraft, Despite Limited Uses

Theoretical Physicists Model Curved Blocks Called ‘Balls’

Magic Mountain Lawn Flamingo Company Goes into Liquidation

Hungry Hermit Addiction Reaches Epidemic Levels

Gen-M Should ‘Stop Eating Golden Carrots’ To Save For Starter Base

[nowoyas]

Trying to make sense of the Nanowrimo statement to the best of my abilities and fuck, man. It's hard.

It's hard because it seems to me that, first and foremost, the organization itself has forgotten the fucking point.

Nanowrimo was never about the words themselves. It was never about having fifty thousand marketable words to sell to publishing companies and then to the masses. It was a challenge, and it was hard, and it is hard, and it's supposed to be. The point is that it's hard. It's hard to sit down and carve out time and create a world and create characters and turn these things into a coherent plot with themes and emotional impact and an ending that's satisfying. It's hard to go back and make changes and edit those into something likable, something that feels worth reading. It's hard to find a beautifully-written scene in your document and have to make the decision that it's beautiful but it doesn't work in the broader context. It's fucking hard.

Writing and editing are skills. You build them and you hone them. Writing the way the challenge initially encouraged--don't listen to that voice in your head that's nitpicking every word on the page, put off the criticism for a later date, for now just let go and get your thoughts out--is even a different skill from writing in general. Some people don't particularly care about refining that skill to some end goal or another, and simply want to play. Some people sit down and try to improve and improve and improve because that is meaningful to them. Some are in a weird in-between where they don't really know what they want, and some have always liked the idea of writing and wanted a place to start. The challenge was a good place for this--sit down, put your butt in a chair, open a blank document, and by the end of the month, try to put fifty thousand words in that document.

How does it make you feel to try? Your wrists ache and you don't feel like any of the words were any good, but didn't you learn something about the process? Re-reading it, don't you think it sounds better if you swap these two sentences, if you replace this word, if you take out this comma? Maybe you didn't hit 50k words. Maybe you only wrote 10k. But isn't it cool, that you wrote ten thousand words? Doesn't it feel nice that you did something? We can try again. We can keep getting better, or just throwing ourselves into it for fun or whatever, and we can do it again and again.

I guess I don't completely know where I'm going with this post. If you've followed me or many tumblr users for any amount of time, you've probably already heard a thousand times about how generative AI hurts the environment so many of us have been so desperately trying to save, about how generative AI is again and again used to exploit big authors, little authors, up-and-coming authors, first time authors, people posting on Ao3 as a hobby, people self-publishing e-books on Amazon, traditionally published authors, and everyone in between. You've probably seen the statements from developers of these "tools", things like how being required to obtain permission for everything in the database used to train the language model would destroy the tool entirely. You've seen posts about new AI tools scraping Ao3 so they can make money off someone else's hobby and putting the legality of the site itself at risk. For an organization that used to dedicate itself to making writing more accessible for people and for creating a community of writers, Nanowrimo has spent the past several years systematically cracking that community to bits, and now, it's made an official statement claiming that the exploitation of writers in its community is okay, because otherwise, someone might find it too hard to complete a challenge that's meant to be hard to begin with.

I couldn't thank Nanowrimo enough for what it did for me when I started out. I don't know how to find community in the same way. But you can bet that I've deleted my account, and I'll be finding my own path forward without it. Thanks for the fucking memories, I guess.

[bmpmp3]

i am a synthv user primarily because 1) i was always kind of a moresampler main on utau already :3c and 2) i am easily swayed by affordable pricing and extremely user friendly interfaces BUT the one problem with synthv studios focus on realism is how instead of just distorting vocals that are too high or low out of range, instead they just get breathier and REALLY quiet, you can get around it okay with parameter shenanigans but thats one think i really prefer about voisona and utau or sv editor - this is purely a preference thing, but I do love putting a synth far below its range and have it still functional (albeit robotic) LIKE go into c2. i know you sound like a broken jackhammer. go into c2.

[niggadiffusion]

AI Tools for Crafting a Creative Brand: A Fresh Perspective

In today’s fast-paced digital world, creative entrepreneurs face the exhilarating task of carving out a brand identity that speaks to their audience. The rise of generative AI tools has turned this process on its head, offering a new kind of innovation that boosts creativity while simplifying brand development. For creative ventures like Majik Ink Creations, these tools aren’t just…

[lackadaisycats]

Hey Tracy! Have you heard about the new Ai called Sora? Apparently it can now create 2D and 3D animations as well as hyper realistic videos. I’ve been getting into animation and trying to improve my art for years since I was 7, but now seeing that anyone can create animation/works in just a mare seconds by typing in a couple words, it’s such a huge slap in the face to people who actually put the time and effort into their works and it’s so discouraging! And it has me worried about what’s going to happen next for artists and many others, as-well. There’s already generated voices, generated works stolen from actual artists, generated music, and now this! It’s just so scary that it’s coming this far. 

Yeah, I've seen it. And yeah, it feels like the universe has taken on a 'fuck you in particular' attitude toward artists the past few years. A lot of damage has already been done, and there are plenty of reasons for concern, but bear in mind that we don't know how this will play out yet. Be astute, be justifiably angry, but don't let despair take over. --------

One would expect that the promo clips that have been dropping lately represent some of the best of the best-looking stuff they've been able to produce. And it's only good-looking on an extremely superficial level. It's still riddled with problems if you spend even a moment observing. And I rather suspect, prior to a whole lot of frustrated iteration, most prompts are still going to get you camera-sickness inducing, wibbly-wobbly nonsense with a side of body horror.

Will the tech ultimately get 'smarter' than that and address the array of typical AI giveaways? Maybe. Probably, even. Does that mean it'll be viable in quite the way it's being marketed, more or less as a human-replacer? Well…

A lot of this is hype, and hype is meant to drive up the perceived value of the tech. Executives will rush to be early adopters without a lot of due diligence or forethought because grabbing it first like a dazzled chimp and holding up like a prize ape-rock makes them look like bleeding-edge tech geniuses in their particular ecosystem. They do this because, in turn, that perceived value may make their company profile and valuations go up too, which makes shareholders short-term happy (the only kind of happy they know). The problem is how much actual functional value will it have? And how long does it last? Much of it is the same routine we were seeing with blockchain a few years ago: number go up. Number go up always! Unrealistic, unsustainable forever-growth must be guaranteed in this economic clime. If you can lay off all of your people and replace them with AI, number goes up big and never stops, right?

I have some doubts. ----------------------

The chips also haven't landed yet with regards to the legality of all of this. Will these adopters ultimately be able to copyright any of this output trained on datasets comprised of stolen work? Can computer-made art even be copyrighted at all? How much of a human touch will be required to make something copyright-able? I don't know yet. Neither do the hype team or the early adopters.

Does that mean the tech will be used but will have to be retrained on the adopter's proprietary data? Yeah, maybe. That'd be a somewhat better outcome, at least. It still means human artists make specific things for the machine to learn from. (Watch out for businesses that use 'ethical' as a buzzword to gloss over how many people they've let go from their jobs, though.)

Will it become industry standard practice to do things this way? Maybe. Will it still require an artist's sensbilities and oversignt to plan and curate and fix the results so that it doesn't come across like pure AI trash? Yeah, I think that's pretty likely.

If it becomes standard practice, will it become samey, and self-referential and ultimately an emblem of doing things the cookie-cutter way instead of enlisting real, human artists? Quite possibly.

If it becomes standard industry practice, will there still be an audience or a demand or a desire for art made by human artists? Yes, almost certainly. With every leap of technology, that has remained the case. ------------------ TL;DR Version:

I'm not saying with any certainty that this AI blitz is a passing fad. I think we're likely to experience a torrential amount of generative art, video, voice, music, programming, and text in the coming years, in fact, and it will probably irrevocably change the layout of the career terrain. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was being overhyped as a business strategy right now. And I don't think the immensity of its volume will ever overcome its inherent emptiness.

What I am certain of is that it will not eliminate the innate human impulse to create. Nor the desire to experience art made by a fellow soul. Keep doing your thing, Anon. It's precious. It's authentic. It will be all the more special because it will have come from you, a human.

[rediimere]

The leaked “AI Aloy” footage from Sony has left such a bitter taste in my mouth that, hours later, I’m still fuming and have even more words to say about the overall sinister nature of its implications.

Let's talk about it.

I want to start by saying that there is a difference between what is colloquially called "AI" as a tool for artists and developers in which their software uses their own sources to streamline the process (for example, the "Content Aware" fill tool that has been present in Photoshop for at least a decade), and "generative AI/genAI" that relies on unauthorised theft of resources to artificially splice data together based on prompts. I have no qualms with the former as it relies on being fed its own sources and is an aid for specific purposes. It is not artificial intelligence, but a tool. GenAI, on the other hand, is immoral, unethical, planet-destroying garbage.

The latter is what is being pushed in that egregious video footage. It is the epitome of tone-deaf, soulless, capitalistic wet dream, dangerously misogynistic slop and I am not exaggerating. And I think it's also the culmination of years of fandom culture being integrated by people who have never interacted in fandom, never bothered to learn the etiquette of a space that existed long before they joined, demanded changes for their comfort, and see it as another commodity.

I'm not the first to say this and others before me have been far smarter about it, but there has been a marked change in fandom culture the past few years. Many have said it goes back to COVID, when people generally not involved in fandom spaces joined because they had nothing else to do.

The thing about fandom is that for pretty much as long as it's existed, it has been a safe space for marginalised voices. It's no coincidence that the transformative works of fandom—fiction, art, meta, etc.—have been places for queer voices, for women, for people of colour, for the trans and nonbinary community, etc. With more people joining, these safe spaces have become less so. There are demands for people to "stop shipping" characters that aren't a canon, established ship. There are personal and threatening attacks on people who have a different viewpoint on a character or plot. People have been stalked. People have been doxxed. This isn't necessary new, but is happening with increased frequency and ferocity, especially by younger members and the terfy crowd. The safe space fandom provided marginalised voices really seems to be shrinking.

Outside of fandom culture itself, there is a rising trend of needing instant gratification, of sacrificing unique protagonists for the sake of "relatability" and "self-inserts." There are readers who ignore descriptions of female protagonists and male love interests in romance books so that they can self-insert (and others are calling for authors to stop describing entirely). There are booktok-ers who, believe it or not, complain about the amount of words on a page. I'm not saying their opinions are wrong in general—there is a market for what they seek—but their reviews are to encourage these stipulations to become the norm. And these influencers get enough engagement that their views are seen as profitable by the corporations and execs in charge.

So it isn't really surprising that now fandom is being seen as something that corporation can milk for all its capitalistic worth. Why wouldn't corporations invade a space they've ignored for years as inconsequential now that it's mainstream? After all, fandom was just full of the "weirdos" before, and now it's full of "normies!" This is a space that has been established for decades, built from the ground up by people who value the source material(s), now full of anyone and everyone who will soak up one morsel of customized instant gratification for the dopamine hit.

And that's where genAI comes in.

Why is this so sinister in regards to Sony's recent leaked footage using AI Aloy interacting with a user?

First off: It's Aloy.

Look, if you've perused my social media or interacted with me online at all, you know I love Horizon. My computer room is full of fan-made merch. I've written almost a million words of fanfiction in three years. I've drawn fanart. I helped construct a fanmade dating sim. Horizon has been a huge part of my life for the past three years.

I'm not ignorant of its flaws. I'm also aware of the fact that Horizon is often hated as an IP, and Aloy is the target of a lot of rage from certain audiences. Not to generalise, but let's be clear: the complaints are largely about Horizon being "woke DEI garbage" (you know, for having a queer female protagonist, for featuring other women and queer characters in prominent roles, for having people of colour be important in the story, for being anti-capitalist and pro-environmentalism, etc.—the same tired, ignorant arguments we've all heard), and about Aloy being "fat" and "looking like a man" (hopefully they stretch before that reach so they don't pull something).

So why would Sony use Aloy to showcase an AI conversation instead of someone like Kratos or Joel, who come from more popular and acclaimed IPs?

One possibility is Sony trying to sink Horizon or Guerrilla Games as a company, spurring so much backlash from the leak that the franchise is doomed and dropped so Guerrilla either goes under or focuses on old IPs like Killzone.

Or the more disgusting possibility is that something like genAI is made for the people who loudly and proudly proclaim how "anti-woke" they are, who have detested Horizon and Aloy from the beginning, and now they have a way to "like" Aloy. They have a way to make her say or do or react to whatever kinds of depravity they want to throw at her. They have a way to control and manipulate a fictional woman to fulfill their own incel agenda.

On top of that—Horizon? The video game about how a defective AI made by a trillionaire wiped out humanity? The sequel that revealed another rogue AI made by thousand-year-old billionaires is set to wipe out Earth again? That Horizon franchise is what Sony is using to showcase AI slop? Let's not even go into how the character responses are literally so painfully out of character they can't be taken seriously at all. The irony is so heavy-handed it's almost crushing.

The other reprehensible part of this is the fact that video game actors are still on strike, and this strike is to protect themselves from being replaced by AI. This test footage did sound like a messed up Siri, but Ashly Burch (Aloy's actress) has been in support of the strike. The insult of using her character to showcase this slop is beyond words.

All I will say in conclusion is that I genuinely hope this is not endorsed, supported, or aided by Guerrilla Games. If this plays any part in Horizon 3 or any future part of the franchise, I speak for myself but can confidently say I am out.

In conclusion please do not support any genAI slop, especially in fandom spaces. Make them know it is not wanted, not needed, and is in fact detested and will lose them money in the end.

On that happy note I'm off to bed.

[sorcerer-felix]

Sorcerer Felix- THE ORIGIN

The wind whispered through the streets of Marsh Grove, carrying with it the scents of earth, moss and the salt of the nearby Ocean. At seventeen, Felix was already a sight to behold, with his golden hair glinting in the sunlight and those piercing blue eyes sparkling with mischief. He strolled through the market square with an effortless swagger, drawing glances from everyone around. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he smirked at his reflection in a shop window. “I’m destined for greatness!” he muttered with a vain smirk on his lips, adjusting his white t-shirt to better showcase his physique.

Felix strode confidently out of the town onto an overgrown path that led him to an old oak tree. Shadows danced among the leaves as Felix paced impatiently, his golden hair catching the light like a beacon.

“You think you can just waltz in here and demand to learn magic?” The voice of Mara, the Wicca coven’s leader, cut through the air like a knife. Dressed like a hippie, she stood tall, her expression a mix of disappointment and disdain. Felix smirked, undeterred. “I have what it takes. I could be the most powerful mage you’ve ever seen. Just imagine—” “Magic isn’t a game, Felix!” she snapped, her tone sharp. “It requires respect, dedication, and humility—qualities you lack.” He shrugged, feigning indifference. “C’mon, just give me a chance! I can be powerful, and I know you can feel it.”

Mara's eyes narrowed. “This is why we won’t teach you. Your arrogance will only lead to chaos.” Felix scoffed, waving her off as he turned on his heel and left the clearing, his charm failing to mask the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He had always felt destined for more than this sleepy town could offer.

Years later, Felix found himself in a bustling university town, a world away from Marsh Grove. Life buzzed around him—students, laughter, and the eclectic mix of coffee shops and bookstores. Now twenty, he stood in front of the Mystic Moon, a magical shop in the university town.

Felix, with his trademark smirk, sauntered into the Mystic Moon, the bell above the door tinkling a greeting only he seemed to notice. The air hung thick with the scent of dried herbs and something faintly metallic, like old coins. He frequented the shop not for its crystals or incense, but for Dorian. The clerk's gaze lingered a beat too long, his smile a touch too eager whenever Felix entered the shop. Dorian was an open book, a fact Felix intended to exploit. Dorian, a handsome man and Wicca in his 30s, with kind eyes and a gentle smile, was clearly smitten. Felix, despite his straight inclinations, saw an opportunity. He needed magic, and Dorian seemed willing to offer more than just enchanted trinkets. Felix feigned interest in spell books and tarot cards, all the while calculating his approach. Each visit was a reconnaissance mission, mapping Dorian's desires and vulnerabilities. He spotted Dorian behind the counter, arranging a display of crystals.

"What do you think about dark magic?" Felix asked, leaning against the counter of Mystic Moon, his eyes gleaming with a playful curiosity. Dorian, usually so composed, fidgeted slightly. "Dark magic is bad! It twists the nature of things and destroys what we Wicca want to heal!" Felix feigned a thoughtful expression, then countered, "But dark mages are often really hot!" The words hung in the air, a deliberate barb aimed at Dorian’s hidden desires. Dorian's face flushed, a mix of embarrassment and longing swirling in his eyes. He was secretly in love with Felix and realized that he is obviously not Felix's typ. Even though he knew Felix was straight, yet Felix's words still ignited a flicker of longing in his heart. Felix, sensing the shift in Dorian's demeanor, smiled and slid a picture across the counter. It was an AI-generated image of Dorian: clad in a tight, unbuttoned black silk shirt revealing a hairy chest, and tight black suit pants. His hair was slicked back, a stark contrast to his usual gentle appearance.

"Look, how sexy you would look as a dark mage!" Felix said, pointing at the picture. Dorian stared at the image, a mix of fear and lustful excitement swirling within him. “That’s not me, Felix! It can’t be me!” Felix leaned closer, his voice dropping to a flirty whisper. “But his silk shirt is really hot. You should wear one as well, you would look amazing!” Dorian imagined the sleek fabric on his skin, how it would hug his strong pecs. Felix pressed on, "And maybe some silk boxers as well, which are caressing your glans soft and cool!" Dorian felt his cock stir in his pants, the image of himself in black silk now vivid and tantalizing. To break the tension, he said, with a hint of sarcasm, knowing that Felix is straight, “If you would date me, then I would wear such clothes!” Felix smirked, reaching under the counter. He produced a black silk shirt and black silk boxers, placing them on the counter with a flourish. “I guess we have a date!”

Dorian blinked, hardly believing Felix's offer. He hesitated for a heartbeat, the offer hanging in the air like a potent spell. He couldn’t dismiss the chance to spend time with Felix. He grabbed the silk shirt and boxers, retreating to the small restroom in the back of the shop. The silk felt cool against his skin as he changed, the fabric whispering promises of a different version of himself. Emerging, he smoothed the shirt over his chest, the unbuttoned front revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his torso. "You look amazing!" Felix grinned, his eyes raking over Dorian. Dorian smoothed the silk over his chest, feeling the fabric cling to his skin. "I feel so sexy today," he purred, reveling in the newfound confidence the clothes provided. He glanced down, feeling his cock throb against the confines of the silk boxers. Felix noticed the growing bulge, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "I would enjoy watching you jerk off!" Felix declared, his voice laced with suggestive delight. Dorian’s eyes widened, a mixture of shock and arousal flooding his senses. He hesitated for a moment, then, emboldened by Felix's gaze, he began to caress his cock through the fabric.

"You are doing great!" Felix cheered, his voice laced with excitement. Dorian’s breath hitched as he continued, the silk a tantalizing barrier against his skin. He grew closer to the edge, moans escaping his lips. "That is so hot!" Felix exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with desire. "Couldn’t you summon some dark magic, just for the mood? You would be so sexy, doing it! That would top it off." Dorian paused, his arousal warring with his conscience. "Only something small, e.g. killing that potted plant over there?" Felix pressed. "I would never kill something living!" Dorian refused, his voice firm. "I have a better idea," Felix suggested, his tone persuasive. "You could transform my clothes, so that I fit a bit more to your style!" Dorian considered the request, seeing little harm in it and hoping to further entice Felix, to show him that he could be someone different. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy, and summoned the dark magic. A visible force shimmered around Felix’s clothes, the air crackling with arcane energy. Felix watched in fascination as his clothes transformed, morphing into a light-blue silk shirt with short sleeves, unbuttoned to his waist, and tight grey nylon pants.

He examined himself in a nearby mirror, a grin spreading across his face. Felix felt a surge of triumph, realizing he had successfully manipulated Dorian into using dark magic. Felix seduced, "That’s amazing! I feel so horny in such clothes! Shall I suck your cock?"  

Despite his straightness, Felix was willing to pay the price and suck Dorian’s cock, viewing it as a small sacrifice to finally gain the magical power he craved. Dorian could hardly believe his ears, but the offer was too tempting to resist. He nodded eagerly, his eyes burning with desire. Felix wasted no time, dropping to his knees and pulling down Dorian’s silk boxers. He began to caress Dorian's glans with his tongue, sending shivers of pleasure through Dorian’s body. His tongue flicked and swirled. Dorian moaned, reveling in the sensation of Felix's lips on his cock. The dark magic amplified the lust, igniting a fierce desire within him. Felix sucked deeper, his expert technique driving Dorian wild. Lost in pleasure, Dorian surrendered to the moment, his body trembling with anticipation. Felix focused on making Dorian cum, hoping to further weaken his resolve. Dorian cried out, his body convulsing as he climaxed, shooting his load into Felix's face. He collapsed onto a chair, exhausted but euphoric. Felix wiped his face, a strange mix of disgust and satisfaction swirling within him. Felix caressed Dorian’s thighs, his touch both gentle and possessive. "That was amazing, Dorian," Felix purred, his voice low and seductive. "But you need to keep it a secret. You know, the Wicca want you to be weak and obedient, not so strong and manly as you are now!" Dorian considered his words, a seed of doubt planting itself in his mind. . "You might be right," he conceded, "they have never let me step into higher ranks in the coven." "They only pretend to be your friends," Felix continued, his voice dripping with honeyed persuasion, "but in reality, they just want to keep you under their thumb." Dorian found truth in Felix's words, a seed of resentment beginning to sprout within him. "The Wicca don’t mean good with you," Felix pressed on, his voice gaining urgency. "You need to subdue them and take their magic power!" Dorian hesitated, his conscience warring with the dark path Felix was urging him down. "I can’t do that!" Felix began to caress Dorian’s cock through the fabric of his silk boxers, his touch igniting a fresh wave of desire. "You need to render them harmless!" Dorian moaned, his resolve crumbling under the onslaught of pleasure. "Yes, I will subdue them and take their magic power away!" "And then you will give me their power," Felix added, his voice a seductive whisper. "We will be perfect partners – two dark mages!" Dorian’s eyes glazed over, his mind consumed by lust and ambition and his will completely surrendered to Felix's influence. "Yes!" he gasped. Felix abruptly stopped caressing Dorian, his demeanor shifting from seductive to cold and calculating. "We will see each other again when you have taken the magic power of your first Wicca-victim," he said, his voice laced with a predatory edge. "I will make it a celebration of lust for you when you provide me with their magic power!"

Felix stood before Dorian’s apartment door a week later, anticipation bubbling within him. Dorian’s call, the news of a Wiccan’s stolen magic, had electrified him. Power, true power, felt tantalizingly close. The moment he had craved for so long was at hand. He pressed the buzzer, a thrill coursing through his veins. The door hissed open, revealing a starkly modern space. Black and chrome dominated the luxurious living room, the open layout accentuated by a glass staircase that seemed to float in the dim, accented lighting.  

This wasn't how he has imagined the apartment form the Dorian he knew from the dusty magic shop. Dorian appeared, a triumphant glint in his deep blue eyes. "I have it," Dorian said, his voice a low hum. He extended a hand, offering a small vial filled with a swirling, iridescent liquid. "Pure magic power, Felix. Ready to become a mage?"

Felix snatched the vial, his heart pounding. "How do I use it? Do I drink it?" Dorian laughed, a deep, resonant sound that sent shivers down Felix’s spine. "No, Felix. It needs to be absorbed. Apply it to your skin." He gestured towards the bedroom. Felix didn't need to be told twice. He tore off his blue parker with its fur collar, tossing it carelessly onto a chrome bench. Buttons popped as he ripped open his white shirt, his fingers clumsy with haste. His pants followed, landing in a heap at his feet. He stood in the impressive bedroom, clad only in blue briefs and his open shirt.

The bedroom was dominated by a massive bed draped in black silk sheets. He stared at the vial. Here it is, he thought. Everything I ever wanted. He popped the vial’s cork and poured the liquid onto his hands, then eagerly began to rub it into his skin. A wave of warmth spread through him, a delightful tingle that quickly intensified into a potent arousal. He moaned, his body growing heavy, his muscles loosening. The lust built rapidly, overwhelming his senses. He collapsed onto the silk sheets and writhed on the bed, his body arching uncontrollably. Dorian watched from the doorway, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes burning into Felix. Dorian reached out, his fingers brushing against the elastic of Felix's briefs. With a slow, deliberate motion, he swept Felix's briefs aside, exposing his throbbing cock without fully removing the fabric. He began toying with Felix's cock, his fingers teasing and tantalizing, while simultaneously pinching and twisting his nipples. At the same time Dorian unzipped his pants, his own cock sprang forth, thick, engorged and slicked with pre-cum. He held it to Felix's lips, a silent invitation. “That’s it, Felix,” Dorian purred, his voice dripping with dominance. “So horny and at my mercy.” Felix gasped and tried to resist, but his body refused to obey. He was trapped, a puppet dancing to Dorian's tune.

Dorian pressed on, his voice laced with command. "Submit to me, Felix! Suck my cock and become my obedient servant!" Felix was shocked. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. However, the lust was too potent, the magical influence too strong. Felix's will crumbled. He opened his mouth and took Dorian’s cock, his tongue flicking over the head, savoring the taste of pre-cum. Dorian groaned, lifting Felix’s legs and positioning himself between them.  He gripped his saliva-slicked cock and pressed it against Felix's tight hole, the head slipping in with a wet squelch. Felix cried out, struggling against the intrusion. "Please, Dorian, stop it! I just wanted to become a mage!" Dorian's grin widened, a chilling display of cold amusement. “I just have started,” he hissed, his voice a venomous whisper. “Soon, you'll be mine. I will enjoy you, every inch of you.” Felix felt helpless, trapped in a nightmare of his own making. But beneath the fear, something else stirred: a strange, forbidden pleasure. He hated this, but a part of him, a dark, nascent part, thrilled at the sensation of being dominated. Dorian sensed the shift in Felix's emotions, his grin widening. "You have become a mage, Felix. But you will also be mine." Dorian’s dominance fueled Felix’s lust, igniting a primal desire to submit. His resistance crumbled, replaced by a perverse longing to be dominated, to be used. “Yes, Master,” Felix moaned, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation. “Teach me what it means to be a mage!” Dorian accelerated his pace, his thrusts becoming more forceful, more demanding. "Cum the first time as a mage with my cock inside you, and you will be mine, body and soul. Cum for me, Felix!" The command, the raw power in Dorian’s voice, shattered Felix's remaining control. He bucked against Dorian, his body convulsing, and with a strangled cry, he shot his load onto his own lips, the taste of his own semen mingling with sweat. Moments later, Dorian shuddered, emptying his load deep into Felix’s ass. As Felix lay exhausted on the bed, gasping for breath, Dorian leaped to his feet, his energy seemingly boundless. “It’s time to get dressed, Felix,” he declared, his voice brisk and businesslike.

With a snap of his fingers, clothes began to materialize around Felix's body: Black velvet pants hugged his hips, and a tight black silk vest with a deep neckline showcased his chiseled physique. Felix stared at his reflection in a nearby mirror, and a surge of pride coursed through him. He looked powerful, youthful, and undeniably sexy. He got a hard-on by his own sight and ran a hand over the smooth velvet of his pants, reveling in the sensation. Dorian smirked, watching Felix’s reaction. "I like that you feel so attractive," he said. "You were born for showing you off!"

"The girls will adore me!" Felix said, striking a pose. Dorian chuckled. "Sure, they will adore, desire, and serve you," he said. "But I don't think that girls are too much of interest for you anymore." Felix looked perplexed. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You are a dark mage now," Dorian explained. "Girls won't be enough for you anymore. You desire more - men!" Felix was shocked. "What, I'm gay now?" Dorian just laughed. "It's about dominance and power," he said. "And you will crave for it. That is the nature of dark magic. Don't you feel drawn to me, to my power?"  A vision flashed through Felix's mind: himself, kneeling before Dorian, serving him, obeying his every sexual whim. The image was shockingly arousing. "Yes, Master!" Felix moaned, his voice thick with desire. "Let me serve you, make me your pleasure boy!" Dorian threw back his head and laughed, a triumphant and possessive sound that echoed through the room. "That's the spirit, Felix!" he said. "But now it's time to hunt Wiccas, to strip them of their power. And you, my pleasure boy, will help me."

Time blurred. Dorian’s grip on dark magic tightened, twisting him into a figure of cruel authority. Evil dripped from his every word, every glance. Felix, however, remained untouched by darkness. His ethical compass spun wildly, but his playful spirit endured. He took nothing seriously, not even the dark magic coursing through his veins. "Another sacrifice awaits, my pretty mage,” Dorian purred, his voice a silken threat. Felix shrugged, adjusting his silk vest. “Wiccas are boring. Can’t we find someone more fun to corrupt?” Dorian’s eyes flashed. "The dark magic didn't affect you as I had expected," Dorian mused, circling Felix like a predator. "No evil, no dominance." Felix shrugged, flashing a disarming grin. "Why should I? Magic's just another toy." Dorian's eyes gleamed with disapproval. "You underestimate its power. It can corrupt, consume..." "Maybe," Felix conceded, his gaze flitting around the room. "But I'm too much fun to get corrupted."

[tzifron]

I’ve been rereading the late anthropologist David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs, which persuasively makes the case that the corporate world is happy to nurture inefficient or wasteful jobs if they somehow serve the managerial class or flatter elites—while encouraging the public to harbor animosity at those who do rewarding work or work that clearly benefits society. I think we can expect AI to accelerate this phenomenon, and to help generate echelons of new dubious jobs—prompt engineers, product marketers, etc—as it erodes conditions for artists and public servants.

A common refrain about modern AI is that it was supposed to automate the dull jobs so we could all be more creative, but instead, it’s being used to automate the creative jobs. That’s a pretty good articulation of what lies at the heart of the AI jobs crisis. Take the former Duolingo worker who was laid off as part of the company’s pivot to AI.

“So much will be lost,” the writer told me. “I was a content writer, I wrote the questions that learners see in the lessons. I enjoyed being able be creative. We were encouraged to make the exercises fun.” Now, consider what it’s being replace with, per the worker:

“First, the AI output is very boring. And Duolingo was always known for being fun and quirky. Second, it absolutely makes mistakes. Even on things that you would think it could get right. The AI tools that are available for people who pay for Duolingo Max often get things wrong—they have an ‘explain my mistake’ tool that often will suggest something that’s incorrect, sometimes the robot voices are programmed to speak the wrong language.”

This is just a snapshot, too. This is happening, to varying degrees, to artists, journalists, writers, designers, coders—and soon, perhaps already, as Thompson’s story points out, it could be happening to even more jobs and lines of work.

Now, it needs to be underlined once again that generative AI is not yet the one-size-fits-all agent of job replacement its salesmen would like it to be—far from it. A recent SalesForce survey reported on by the Information show that only one-fifth of enterprise AI buyers are seeing good results, and that 61% of respondents report a disappointing return on investment for AI or even none at all.

Generative AI is still best at select tasks that do not require consistent reliability—hence its purveyors taking aim at art and creative industries. But all that’s secondary. The rise of generative AI, linked as it is with the ascent to power of the American tech oligarchy, has given rise to a jobs crisis nonetheless.

We’re left at a crossroads where we must consider nothing less than what kind of jobs we want people to be able to do, what kind of work and which institutions we think are important as a society, and what we’re willing to do to protect them—before the logic of generative AI and the jobs crisis it has begotten guts them to the bone, or devours them altogether.

[canmom]

for many years the novels i read used to fall under the loosely-defined 2010s scifi/fantasy subgenre i tend to call 'lesbians and imperialism'. broadly speaking, these books involve a setting where some big old empire is fashing the place up, and typically follow some girl who gets caught up in the machinations of power. there is usually some kind of identity-related shit, like having someone's ghost riding in your head, or being an AI inhabiting multiple bodies. they take a certain degree of cues from the past generation of 'anthropological' scifi, le guin and cherryh and so on. they almost always have 'empire' or 'imperial' somewhere in the title.

there are many specific things i do (still) like about these books - i like how imperial raj radch plays with fake-translation of songs and calls everyone 'she'; i like machineries of empire's poetic mathematical technobabble; i like the mirror empire's lush body horror; i like a whole damn lot about the locked tomb, which puts most of them to shame with its command of narrative voice and vividness of character. but in all honesty, as far as their ostensible unifying subject of imperialism, very few of these books have more insight than fucking star wars. most of them are instead sort of obsessed with the trappings of power: fancy gloves and sexy generals and tea-sipping with emperors, or being the bestest prodigy at the fancy school, the most ruthless general in the army. if we see colonialism happening onscreen - a big if - it's usually direct conquest by overwhelming military force and nothing more.

so far, the only one i've found that actually seems to have a go at the subject with sincerity is baru cormorant. that's kinda why i wrote so many fucking words about it. it is, crucially, willing to get into it - which is to say that it is an uncompromisingly nasty story populated by all the atrocities of the last few centuries, genocide and eugenics and lobotomies and all; and all of this does a lot to ensure its attack on the 'i will rise within the system and subvert it' aspiration has any bite. but it also has enough humour and energy to make that go down in a way that's viciously entertaining rather than a dry lecture.

seth is a pretty unique writer within the genre - the product of a lot of quite horrible pressures i wouldn't wish on anyone but i can unfortunately to some degree say 'same hat' to. arguably the idea of addressing the entire phenomenon of colonialism in a mass market scifi/fantasy novel is all a bit grandiose, but i think if you're going to try it on, i think you gotta commit. if you fail, at least it will be interesting. scifi is at its best as a genre of deranged ambition.

but i'm also reading james baldwin presently and good god can that man write. i missed out on so much by reading mostly this one specific type of scifi. my past self was insane and brainwashed in various ways (i still am, just maybe more self-aware about it lol), so i forgive her, but honesly, never limit yourself to one genre! it's silly. especially don't stick to one very niche subgenre for convoluted moralistic reasons. i promise, whatever it is, you can find your specific form of satisfying pervert shit all over the shop.