What specific development transitioned voice cloning from an academic pursuit to a public utility?

Answer

The development of accessible software platforms that democratized the creation process

The shift from theoretical study to widespread public impact occurred when the technology was made user-friendly enough for general consumption. This transition was directly facilitated by the creation and proliferation of accessible software platforms. These platforms effectively democratized the complex process of generating synthetic audio, moving it out of specialized academic or industrial labs. This ease-of-use meant that individuals without specialized engineering knowledge could now generate convincing audio spoofs, leading directly to the increased relevance of terms like 'audio deepfake'.

What specific development transitioned voice cloning from an academic pursuit to a public utility?
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