Audible Tests AI-Powered Search Feature with Maven

Audible, Amazon’s audiobook company, has begun testing a new AI-driven search feature to streamline the audiobook search process. Starting today, selected U.S. customers can interact with “Maven,” Audible’s innovative recommendation assistant that provides personalized title suggestions based on specific user requests.

Functionality of Maven

Maven allows users to input queries in natural language, such as “I’m looking for an uplifting fiction novel with a female protagonist,” and it will respond with tailored recommendations from Audible’s vast library of nearly one million titles. The feature is accessible on both iOS and Android devices. Currently, around half of Audible’s U.S. customers will have access to Maven, although it is initially limited to a subset of the audiobook collection.

Continuous Improvement and AI Integration

As a beta product, Maven will undergo continuous enhancements. Audible has not disclosed the specific AI models used but mentioned that Maven utilizes “the strengths of multiple models” and will be refined as these models evolve.

Additional AI Innovations

In conjunction with Maven’s launch, Audible is also testing AI-curated collections and AI-generated reviews. These features are part of Audible’s broader efforts to integrate AI into its platform, similar to Spotify’s AI-generated playlists.

AI-Voiced Audiobooks and Industry Impact

This development comes amid reports of a significant number of AI-narrated audiobooks available on Audible, which has raised concerns among human narrators about job security. As of May, there were over 40,000 titles with AI narration, and this number is expected to grow.