How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Google Play Books

The short answer

Not through auto-narration, which narrates your EPUB with Google's own voices. PublishDrive's table lists Google Play as accepting AI-narrated audiobooks sent through PublishDrive.

Auto-narration needs an EPUB in English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi or Brazilian Portuguese that is also on sale as an ebook on Google Play. Whether Google Play takes an AI-narrated file uploaded directly is not stated on the page we read.

What to disclose

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

Who keeps the master

You — you upload your own finished files.

How to publish it

1. 01

   Know what auto-narration is

   Google narrates your EPUB itself, and the ebook must also be on sale on Google Play. It is not an upload route for audio you narrated elsewhere.

2. 02

   Pick a distributor that delivers to Google Play

   PublishDrive's store table lists Google Play as accepting AI-narrated audiobooks sent through PublishDrive.

3. 03

   Disclose the narrating tool and voice

   PublishDrive asks for them in the contributor metadata for Google Play.

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 Apple BooksApple Books digital narration is Apple's own programme and does not take your file. How an audiobook narrated elsewhere reaches Apple 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.