How AI Narrators Are Changing the Landscape of E-Learning

Creating e-learning videos is often a thankless task. Few understand the hard work and long hours that go on behind the scenes to create educational material.

One of the most time-consuming aspects of the process is one that seems, on the surface, pretty simple: recording a voice narration.

But between countless false starts, retakes, and edits post-recording to get the final version right, narration for learning videos is anything but simple.

The good news? There’s a much easier way: AI narrators.

This article will serve as your introduction to the world of AI narration. We’ll explain what AI narrators are, how you use them, what they’re useful for, and how to choose the right platform for your needs.

What is an AI narrator? 

An AI voice generator uses artificial intelligence to generate voice narrations for video content, based on the script that you either provide or create using a few prompts and a generative AI scriptwriter.

AI narrators use a combination of modern technologies, ranging from simple text-to-speech (TTS) systems to more sophisticated natural language processing (NLP) and speech synthesis technologies to convert text into spoken word.

The voice that the AI voice generator provides can be completely computer-generated. Or it can be what’s known as a synthetic voice—one that uses recordings of real human speech (maybe even your own voice!) as its base.

In some cases, AI narrations are accompanied by an AI avatar—a synthetic or computer-generated visual representation of the human or character giving the voice overs. 

How do you use AI voice generation?

While every AI text-to-speech platform has a slightly different workflow, the broad steps to creating a narration are similar.

Here’s what the steps might look like in Colossyan, for instance:

1. Import your script or write one from scratch using generative AI (often a feature included in the same software platform).

2. Choose your AI avatar and voice (if you’re using one).

3. Select your language and accent.

4. Adjust the narration with parameters such as tone and scenario.

4 benefits of using an AI narrator in your e-learning videos 

Still not sure about using an AI voice generator to power your e-learning material?

Here are four tangible benefits of using AI avatars that you’ll see right away:

1. Support different learning styles 

For many, written text is a difficult learning medium. It can be slow and often fails to communicate nuances that the human voice can.

An AI voice generator with a natural-sounding voice can help support text-based learning by giving your educational materials engaging audio that helps students learn in a way that works best for them.

2. Improve consistency across learning videos 

Traditional, human-recorded voice overs are the norm in e-learning, but they can create an inconsistent experience for learners.

These videos often feature speakers with different voices and audio recording setups with varying degrees of audio quality, which not only impact the learning experience but actually make it harder and more time-consuming to edit into a final product.

AI text to speech platforms eliminate that inconsistency, as you can use the same computer-generated voice with the same accent and inflection across all videos, creating consistent quality.

Plus, your AI avatar will never get sick and record a video with a blocked nose!

3. Add subtitles to promote accessibility 

Adding subtitles and captions to videos is a great way to promote accessibility in e-learning.

If you’re not using AI-generated voice narration, you’ll likely have to do this manually, adding another item to your to-do list before you can get that video out to students.

But the more advanced AI voice generators on the market take this work off your plate, helping you to automatically generate subtitles and superimpose them over your video.

4. Translate in seconds

The best AI narrators also have built-in translators, allowing you to easily and automatically translate an entire narration in just seconds.

How to choose an AI voice generation solution for e-learning 

Ready to get started with AI narration?

There are plenty of options out there, from a simple free AI voice generator to the most complex platforms that let you create your own AI voice to generate voice overs that sound just like you.

Your next step should be to start looking for a software solution to help you get the job done.

Before you dive into that task, though, take note of these quick tips for choosing an AI voice-generation solution:

1. Check for learning requirements like SCORM 

When picking an AI narration tool to create e-learning and training videos, your first step should be to check out the tool’s ability to meet learning requirement ratings.

For instance, Colossyan offers features that support learning and development needs, such as automatic translation and scenario-based learning.

Of particular importance is the ability to export videos in sharable content object reference model (SCORM) format, a set of technology standards that all major learning management systems (LMS) use.

If you’re using an LMS to support online learning, you’ll want to prioritize a tool that offers SCORM as an output format.

2. Review the available avatars, voices, languages, and accents 

Next, take a look at each tool’s range of AI avatars, realistic AI voices, languages, and accents. 

If you’re going to create training videos with AI avatars, you’ll want someone who is a fit for your audience.

A gruff-looking man in overalls might be perfect for internal videos at an engineering firm, but he’s probably not the best fit for a group of 8-year-olds.

The best AI narration tools will provide a variety of avatars to choose from.

From there, ask these questions:

• What languages and accents are the AI-generated voices available in?
• Can you alter features like tone while still retaining natural-sounding speech?
• Does the tool offer voice cloning technology so you can use your own AI-generated voice sound in educational videos?

Pro tip: You can choose your favorite voices in Colossyan and always keep them at the top for easy access.

3. Consider the need for custom avatars

Didn’t find an AI avatar that suits your use case? Or perhaps you want to add a personal touch to your learning videos?

Some AI narrator tools also offer the ability to generate a custom avatar with your own gestures and facial expressions.

Depending on the tool in question, you may be able to create a basic avatar using your smartphone, or you might need to book some time in a studio with professional equipment.

4. Review quality standards 

Now that you’ve ticked off some of those preliminary boxes, turn your attention to audio quality.

What does the narration sound like? Is it a natural human voice, or does it sound a bit robotic? Is the narration quality the same across all voices and accents, or does it differ?

Moreover, how realistic does the narration need to be for your needs? 

Some use cases may require as much realism as possible to pass as a real human voice. In other cases, you might be completely happy with a voice that is clearly AI-generated but communicates the intended message just fine.

5. Make sure the tool integrates with your existing tech stack 

One of the big wins of using an AI voice generator is the amount of time and effort you save compared to traditional voice recordings.

You can take this efficiency gain to the next level by integrating the tool into your existing software infrastructure.

For example, if you can export a video directly from your AI video generation platform to your e-learning solution, you can skip the download and upload processes and get learning content out to a global audience faster.

6. Confirm that the pricing fits within your budget 

Finally, you’ll want to take a look at what the tool actually costs.

At the end of the day, the best AI voice generator serves all your needs without breaking the bank.

Free AI voice generators do exist and can be a reasonable option for getting started, but they generally don’t offer a lot in terms of feature richness, and quality is often a concern—especially if they don’t allow you to fine-tune audio files or choose different speech styles.

The good news is that professional options like Colossyan offer packages using synthetic voices that start at just $19 per month.

Colossyan: Your AI avatar for e-learning videos 

AI narrators can be powerful tools for creating e-learning content at scale or for adding natural sound voice overs to your YouTube videos.

The best options offer natural-sounding voices across dozens of languages, accents, and speaking styles, helping you find the perfect voice for your needs.

Some solutions, like Colossyan, go beyond simple narration—not only providing high-quality voice overs but also adding a powerful visual element with AI avatars.

Unlock the full potential of AI video creation today with Colossyan.