Instead of our usual format of tips to make you a better communicator, we took a break this month to collect some of the more noteworthy developments and products in the speaking world. Here’s what we found…
Online Heavyweight Partnership
In a bold move sure to send shockwaves through the online meeting market, Chat GPT and Zoom have announced a collaboration to develop the ultimate speaking filter for video calls. The new technology, dubbed “ZoomGPT,” promises to revolutionize online communication by allowing users to choose from a range of filters that modify their speech in real-time.
According to the companies’ joint press release, the filters will use advanced machine learning algorithms to modify a user’s words and inflection in real time to reflect that of any public figure in their database. Want to sound like James Earl Jones, Barack Obama, Mother Teresa, or Jesus Christ? No problem. Just select the voice from the drop-down menu and your word choice, tone, rate, depth, and accent will be changed to reflect your selection.
The program also generates sound effects like laughter or applause at the optimal time. No more jokes falling flat or feeling like an audience doesn’t like your content. You’ll be the center of attention in your online world.
“We’re really excited about this partnership,” said ChatGPT spokesperson Anna Flection. “We think ZoomGPT is going to change the way people communicate online. Imagine a sales call and having Billy Mays doing the pitching for you – it’s going to be a game-changer!”
Not everyone is convinced that ZoomGPT is a good idea. Critics have raised concerns about the potential for misuse and worry that the filters could be used to spread disinformation. The legal firm Dorkus, Doofus, and Ding-Dong has already threatened lawsuits over the protection of client identity rights. Their website claims Adam Sandler, Julia Roberts, Adolf Hitler, and Buddha as client defendants. However, ZoomGPT insists that they have put safeguards in place to prevent abuse and pay out royalties.
“We’re taking security very seriously,” said Zoom’s director of public affairs, Tom Ato. “We’ve built in a range of measures to prevent fraud and abuse, and we’ve created an AI bot to constantly monitor the system to make sure it’s being used responsibly.”
The companies say that the technology will be available to all Zoom users under paid plans starting April 1st and will be free to use for the first week and include a dozen voices. New voices and subscriptions will be introduced in the future.
Only time will tell if ZoomGPT becomes a hit with users or if it’s just another April Fools’ joke. Either way, it’s sure to add a new dimension to online communication!
Silicon Valley Startup
Newcomer technology firm Fearless Speaking has just announced a new tool to allow users to overcome their anxiety and fear of speaking in public and to master their public image. The new technology, dubbed Stage Ready, is under strict secrecy wraps. But it promises to revolutionize the speaking industry by enabling hesitant speakers to present with boldness and conviction.
The company describes the product as using recently-discovered neurological paths in the body in combination with electromagnetic thermocouple ports and a special pre-speech cocktail known as Manula JuiceTM. The fluid is consumed an hour before speaking and readies the speaker for up to eight hours. The portable controller can be powered up at any time and takes just seconds to have an effect.
The initial version of the system does three things to the speaker’s autonomous communication and behavior:
- Stage Ready transforms the emotions of the speaker from fear into joy. Tests show a reduced heart rate, complete omission of sweaty palms, and a noted change in facial expression.
- Stage Ready recognizes micro movements such as twitching and shaking and sends electric pulses to mitigate such motion. Audiences will be unable to see any telltale hints of nervousness.
- Stage Ready targets the speaker’s trachea and larynx to eliminate warbling or cracking of the voice. It can also be attenuated to change a speaker’s volume and dynamic range, making even the most soft-spoken speaker appear to have boldness previously reserved for the industry’s best speakers.
Company founder and patent holder Ian Ticipate describes the technology and user experience:
“Two electroports must be installed in the speaker’s body. The process is near instantaneous and feels like an IV being injected into the shoulder. It’s FDA-approved and has no side effects. The portable device, powered by two AAA batteries, is then attached to the electroports by small wires, not unlike a wireless microphone. The user feels nothing except the adoration of their audience.”
The company said initial units will sell for approximately $300, but the company is only accepting BitCoin on their website.
When asked what would happen if the device lost power in the middle of a speech, the company declined to comment.
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This article was published in the April edition of our monthly speaking tips email newsletter, Communication Matters. Have speaking tips like these delivered straight to your inbox every month. Sign up today to receive our newsletter and receive our FREE eBook, “Twelve Tips that will Save You from Making a Bad Presentation.” You can unsubscribe at any time.
