Google Launches Amazon Text-to-Speech Competitor

Google's new Cloud Text-to-Speech offering is now available to developers in Beta. Developers interested in using the technology behind Google maps, assistant, and more can now do so. According to Google's site, "Google Cloud Text-to-Speech enables developers to synthesize natural-sounding speech with 30 voices, available in multiple languages and variants. It applies DeepMind’s groundbreaking research in WaveNet and Google’s powerful neural networks to deliver the highest fidelity possible."

DeepMind has worked to create more natural sounding voices for playback. Additionally, Google says, the API can support any application or device that can send a REST or gRPC request (including phones, PCs, tablets and IoT devices. As a result, Cloud Text-to-Speech can be used for many common use-cases.

Additionally, Google's latest offering allows users to customize speech "with SSML tags that allow you to add pauses, numbers, date and time formatting, and other pronunciation instructions." You can adjust the rate of speech, the pitch of the voice, and the audio output format.