{
  "id": 11268362,
  "title": "Audible announces AI-powered character guides, interactive stories, more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/audible-announces-ai-powered-character-guides-interactive-stories-more",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-01T20:06:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/01/audible-announces-ai-powered-character-guides-interactive-stories-more/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Audible has announced three new features aimed at enhancing listeners' engagement with their favorite stories. One such feature, Character Guide, will debut alongside Audible Originals Bram Stoker's Dracula and George Orwell's 1984. This tool provides real-time identification of who is speaking, along with spoiler-free cards detailing each character and their corresponding voice performer. The cards feature headshots and bios of the narrators. Furthermore, Character Guide will enable users to ask questions about the production as they listen. Another AI-driven addition is Interactive Story, a complimentary experience featuring real-time conversations with characters from supported audiobooks. For the first installment, users will converse with Renfield, Dracula's volatile servant, who assigns roles, goals, and stakes before reacting based on the listener's responses. This feature will initially accompany Bram Stoker's Dracula but will later be integrated into Benjamin Percy's Audible Original Exoplanet. Lastly, Visual Explorer is set to \"surface relevant imagery and visual context at key moments during listening,\" offering maps for geographical understanding and images tied to significant narrative moments. Audible will initially roll out Visual Explorer in conjunction with The Cultural Tutor's Grand Tour: The Story of Europe in Six Cities, while Interactive Story is slated for a fall release. Interested customers can learn more by accessing the limited beta versions available in the U.S. and UK. For additional Apple news, visit 9to5Mac on YouTube.",
  "summary": "Audible today announced three features coming to “deepen customers’ connections to their favorite stories.” Here are the details. more…",
  "key_points": [
    "Character Guide identifies speakers and provides spoiler-free character cards with voice performers.",
    "Interactive Story offers real-time conversations with characters from supported audiobooks.",
    "Visual Explorer provides relevant imagery and visual context at key listening moments."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}