YORK, Pa. — A York City recording studio is asking for help as it embarks on a major project to shape the future of AI.
“This is a huge opportunity for York and its residents," said Lee King, a producer and co-partner at Studio 117.
Producers at Studio 117 say they are inviting people to step into the audio booth and record casual conversations with their friends and family. Lee King said the conversations being recorded will help train future AI voice models for one of the biggest tech companies in the world—though— he couldn't reveal who.
“This AI company will use the way they respond to model the future voice for all AI, which will impact billions of people," said King.
People who participate in the recordings will be given $25 and be entered in a $2,500 raffle to record two hours of audio. King said the studio will be scheduling out three or four AI recording sessions every day until the end of the project.
King added that the conversations will train the AI models to react more naturally when interacting with users.
"It’s teaching it how to respond like a human, so when you ask a question, it responds in context," said King.
Studio 117 says the AI models will not copy the voices or record the details of conversations during the project. King believes the project will give participants a deeper understanding of AI and give them a say with how the technology develops.
“A lot of people have reservations about AI. But this can show them that it is as simple as a conversation," said King.
By participating in the project, studio producers hope that the City of York can take the lead in the growth of AI.
“This is a way to put York on the map as far as technology and innovation is concerned," said King.
Studio 117 will be recording up to 1,000 hours of audio by the end of the year.