TikTok's text-to-speech feature has been ubiquitous in the Chinese video-sharing service, wherein all sorts of videos have used it as their audio.
But this time, a woman revealed in her first-ever TikTok video post that she is the voice behind the trending text-to-speech function.
Besides her revelation, she also shared a clip to prove doubters that she is the real deal.
(Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A young man holding a smartphone casts a shadow as he walks past an advertisement for social media company TikTok on September 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.
A young man holding a smartphone casts a shadow as he walks past an advertisement for social media company TikTok on September 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.
TikTok's Text-to-Speech
If you have been doom-scrolling, and have been spending a couple of hours watching TikTok videos, you might have stumbled upon a jolly AI-like voice along the way.
While the video shows a text, a robotic-like yet cheerful voice tries to read it for its viewers.
According to a recent report by Android Authority, the said feature apparently has a bigger purpose. The text-to-speech is an accessibility function for folks with visual issues. Essentially, it should help them enjoy various TikTok clips without having to read the text on the video.
But it has gone beyond that. It has made video a bit more interactive without requiring users to speak themselves. It is as easy as typing some text.
While we hear it every now and then, the voice behind it has long been a mystery to most TikTok users -- until today.
Who is the Voice Behind TikTok's Text-to-Speech?
A woman posted a video on TikTok, claiming that she is the voice behind the text-to-speech feature. It turns out that the speaker in the trending feature is a local radio host in Canada. And her name is Kat Callaghan, as per the latest news story by In The Know.
If you are from Ontario, you might have listened to her once on the radio. She hosts a radio show that goes by the name The Beat on 91.5 FM.
In the first video of Callaghan, she confessed right away she is none other than the voice behind the text-to-speech feature of TikTok.
Her caption states that she has kept mum about it for "a long time." However, this time, she has finally spoken up. The Canadian radio host also reveals that she has "an ongoing awesome relationship with the folks at TikTok."
The woman behind the iconic voice notes that it is "odd" that while her voice has been on so many videos, it was her first ever TikTok post.
@voiceofkatFor a long time I didn’t say a word. But … yes it’s me and yes I have an ongoing awesome relationship with the folks at TikTok. The coolest part for me is watching the creativity & awesome content that people are putting out there using my voice. (Also oddly enough this is my first TikTok) ♬ original sound - Kat
Canadian Radio Host Proves She is the Iconic Voice Behind Viral Feature
However, her first-ever post only featured her authentic speaking voice. Not the cheerful AI-like that we get to hear most of the time. And as such, she posted another video to prove that she was the real deal by doing the text-to-speech voice.
@voiceofkat Let’s see if this does it. ♬ original sound - Kat
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Written by Teejay Boris
