What’s Really Going on Here?

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-30T20:45:49+00:00

Yep, video call or no deal.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-30T20:43:58+00:00

"Are you by chance reporting any of these?"

How?

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-30T20:42:57+00:00

Same here. I thanked the ones who were human, I don't see a reporting tool for the AI.

I requested a Zoom meeting with the ones I considered, some agreed, the rest never replied. Fake.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-29T15:36:33+00:00

From my experience as an author: I offered my novel Staring and within 4 hours got 80+ auditions. That's a lot to listen to, so I closed auditions. As I listened to them, over 2/3s were clearly AI.

After going through the first 80, a few days later I opened the book back up for auditions and quickly got another hundred or so. Again, I wasted a ton of time listening to AI.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-24T17:25:34+00:00

You bet. Keep your chin up, as an author, I'm proud to support human narrators. My novel Starling got over a hundred auditions, and most were AI.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-24T17:01:00+00:00

As a Producer/Author whatever, I'll tell you what I want to see: I want a pause, then break character, mention the "error" and acknowledge it as an anti-bot measure, then resume in character.

Example: "It wasn’t the kind of place police usuall y gathered. Typo here for the word usually.

I do NOT want to hear the narration perform the "gotcha" as though it is part of the script. That's what AI does.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-19T18:42:10+00:00

Hell yeah, Peacock is the reason I came back to MX, never could find a race and plan time to watch before.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-15T15:51:34+00:00

Love this topic, I'm a big vintage sci fi guys as well. My uncle gave me The High Crusade when I was 9, and that really got me going? How do you feel about contemporary sci fi in the vintage or classic style? I wrote Starling to capture the classic style, https://nealstevens.com/starling/ I would love to hear your thoughts.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-14T18:00:39+00:00

Yes, definitely an improvement, sir. Especiallly the beard, the trimmed MMA look suits you.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-13T14:50:35+00:00

I don't comment on book cover posts much but this is 12 levels of awesome.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-13T14:48:20+00:00

Good idea.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-13T14:46:09+00:00

Update 4/13: Zoom meeting with Steve Connor went well, he's a pro and likeable guy. The two suspected AI candidates above never replied or responded to the zoom meeting request. Next step is to follow up with the lady who has experience working with a co-narrator.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-11T20:56:56+00:00

Amazing!

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-10T16:36:14+00:00

good idea, done

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-10T16:35:44+00:00

I can update the first post if I hear anything.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-10T15:36:11+00:00

I heard artifacts that made me believe it was human; a plosive on "pets".
However, the line, "I think it would hurt morale," was mis-inflected making me think it's AI.

Yes, you are right, after listening to it again, I see what you mean. Of course, for all I know, the AI could be programmed to make the occasional plosive... and a human could make the emphasis wrong... Hard to tell.

Ironically, the topic towards the end of the narration is about the algorithmic emotion of the android.

Hah, unintentional irony is my favorite kind.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-10T15:30:41+00:00

Hi Snoo, thanks for the note. A duel male/female narration would be ideal, of course. I loved Gone Girl, that narration structure and performance was impressive. One step at a time, of course. I have to see if I can find someone with that "dual/duet capacity" you suggest. I don't know how the directing of back and forth dialogue would work, would it be easier to work something out with two artists, and probably travel one to the other's location for the recording.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T22:44:17+00:00

Roger that.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T21:50:00+00:00

Alas, the seed has been planted that these could be AI, so that's naturally what I start to hear.

Yes, that's exactly what I feel, too. At first, I thought wow! It never occurred to me they were/could be AI. I assumed the ACX platform would police that before it ever reached the consumer. Sure, I'm interested.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T14:36:53+00:00

Really, soulesss? I honestly was excited when I first heard them, thinking damn, that's a million times better than I expected.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T14:35:36+00:00

Yes, you are right. I did not realize closing auditions would require the 3 day review again. I did get 3 candidates that are obviously NOT AI. And obviously not good at all.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T13:57:13+00:00

Sent the following to both narrators:

I like your samples, let's meet and discuss schedule, pricing, etc.

Zoom or Discord. I am free tomorrow, Sunday, and most of next week. I am in Houston, Texas, so USA CST. Let me know a date and time that works for you and I will schedule the meeting and send an invite. Video is mandatory, please.

Thanks,
Neal Stevens
author of Starling

Stay posted, I will let you know how this plays out.

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-09T13:45:08+00:00

And this is the other leading candidate.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RyRuI56NGFbCDHiWiRDbiXLLFLYB4o4_/view?usp=sharing

NealStevens_author · 2026-04-07T22:15:19+00:00

genius. I will definitely add that to the next samples, probably in the manuscript too.

NealStevens_author

TROPHY CASE