How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Apple Books

The short answer

Not directly. Apple Books digital narration is Apple's own programme: it produces the audiobook from your ebook and is delivered through Apple's preferred partners. PublishDrive's table lists Apple Books as accepting AI-narrated audiobooks sent through PublishDrive.

Apple's own digital narration is free, leaves the audiobook rights with the publisher or author, and places no restriction on other versions — but it narrates your ebook; it does not take your file.

What to disclose

Through PublishDrive: the narrating tool and voice in the contributor metadata and in the description.

Who keeps the master

You — you upload your own finished files.

How to publish it

1. 01

   Know what Apple's digital narration is

   It produces an audiobook from your ebook through Apple's preferred partners. It is not an upload route for audio you narrated elsewhere.

2. 02

   Pick a distributor that delivers to Apple Books

   PublishDrive's store table lists Apple Books as accepting AI-narrated audiobooks sent through PublishDrive.

3. 03

   Disclose the narrating tool and voice

   PublishDrive asks for them in the contributor metadata and in the description for Apple Books.

Sources

Make the audiobook

• Audiobook StudioManuscript to finished chapters, exported as a package that meets ACX audio-file specifications and carries AI-narration disclosure metadata.
• Where AI-narrated audiobooks are acceptedEvery route side by side, with the source and the date checked on each row.

Other stores

• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Author's RepublicAuthor's Republic is testing distribution of AI-voice audiobooks made elsewhere. How it labels them, what it will not promise, and why you ask before uploading.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on KoboKobo Writing Life accepts AI-narrated audiobooks. The exact narrator contributor wording it asks for, and the two contributors Kobo wants on every audiobook.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on StreetLibStreetLib takes audiobooks you produce yourself, but its pages say nothing direct about AI narration. What its guidelines say about AI, and why you ask first.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on PublishDrivePublishDrive distributes AI-narrated audiobooks to most of its stores when the AI use is declared. Where the declaration goes, and the stores that say no.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Voices by INaudioVoices by INaudio only takes AI narration as an LPF package from its approved providers, and AudioPod is not one. What that means, and where to go instead.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on SpotifySpotify for Authors accepts digitally narrated audiobooks from the providers it lists. The disclosure option to tick, and why you ask before uploading.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Google Play BooksGoogle Play's auto-narration reads your EPUB with Google's own voices. How an audiobook you narrated elsewhere reaches Google Play Books instead.
• How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on AudibleWhy a direct ACX upload is closed to AI narration, why KDP Virtual Voice leaves the master with Amazon, and what to ask a distributor about Audible.