How to publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Kobo

The short answer

Yes. Kobo's help centre says Rakuten Kobo gladly accepts AI narration, and asks you to list the narrator contributor as a synthesised voice.

Kobo asks for at least two contributors on an audiobook: one author contributor and one narrator contributor.

What to disclose

List the narrator contributor as "Synthesised voice - male", "Synthesised voice - female" or "Synthesised voice - unspecified".

Who keeps the master

You — you upload your own finished files.

How to publish it

1. 01

   Export the finished audiobook

   Kobo takes the audio you upload yourself, so have the finished chapter files and cover ready before you start.

2. 02

   Add an author contributor

   Kobo asks for at least two contributors on an audiobook, and one of them is the author.

3. 03

   Add the narrator contributor Kobo asks for

   Use "Synthesised voice - male", "Synthesised voice - female" or "Synthesised voice - unspecified" as the narrator — not the name of the voice you picked.

4. 04

   Upload through Kobo Writing Life

   Submit the audiobook from your Kobo Writing Life account, and re-read Kobo's page on the day you do.

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 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 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.