Audible has introduced three technology features designed to make audiobooks more interactive as competition from Spotify intensifies. The Amazon-owned company said the tools will help listeners explore characters, participate in interactive stories and access additional images and information about places mentioned in books.
The features are launching in beta with a limited selection of titles. The places feature is initially available in “The Cultural Tutor: A Modern Guide to History, Art and Philosophy in 49 Short Chapters” by Sheehan Quirke, which covers topics including art, architecture, geography and poetry.
Audible’s character guide will debut with its October 1 release of “Dracula.” It will identify speakers in real time on the player page and provide spoiler-free character cards with narrator biographies. Audible said listeners will eventually be able to ask questions about a story as it unfolds. The guide will also be available for Audible Originals of George Orwell’s “1984” and the upcoming “Exoplanet.”
Interactive stories will launch with “Dracula” and “Exoplanet.” Powered by generative AI, the feature lets listeners respond to a character, with the conversation unfolding in real time. For “Dracula,” users will interact with Renfield, the book’s servant. Audible said creators help shape these experiences to keep them grounded in the original stories.
The company plans to expand the features to more titles over time.
Source: TechCrunch
