Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps

vivek95 · 8th June 2020, 15:14

Wow. This is amazing piece of news. Can't wait to hear Bachchan saab's voice regularly while driving. His heavy voice and clear pronounciation of Hindi words is awe inspiring. Hope this rolls out at the earliest.

14000rpm · 8th June 2020, 19:02

Such custom options are always welcome but then, if Google is paying top dollar for his voice, would it be a paid option for users?
Years ago TomTom had a paid option to buy and download voices of choice. At that time, I remember Snoop Dogg being one. Jeremy Clarkson's voice was available for a brief period of time only. Don't recollect what the other options were.

libranof1987 · 8th June 2020, 19:37

Several years ago, Google pulled a similar stunt by getting Morgan Freeman to do a voice-over on Waze. That was when he was promotion his movie "London Has Fallen".

https://www.travelandleisure.com/tra...eman-gps-voice

I suspect getting Mr. Bachchan must be a similar marketing gimmick than a full-fledged voice option. But then, knowing his flair for marketing products, you never know!

aveemashfaq · 9th June 2020, 19:29

I actually hate the Indian lady's voice in Google Maps. I change my phone settings to Google US and get that american lady who is semi-dominant in instructing me.

In all seriousness, the coarse nature of Amitabh Bachchan's voice may make it hard to understand in a hurry.

Miyata · 9th June 2020, 19:37

But why would google waste its money on this? They already are the most popular and almost a monopoly in the field...doesn't make any sense to me.

On the right pronunciation of street names - Just a matter of time before NLP/NLU takes care of that. No additional expense for Google. They ought to have done it already. Don't know what their hold up is.

INJAXN · 9th June 2020, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyata

But why would google waste its money on this? They already are the most popular and almost a monopoly in the field...doesn't make any sense to me.

Marketing.
They are the most popular, this does not mean they should not improve, or try to improve, their service. If they will not, someone else will.

Suppose MapMyIndia takes Amitabh Bachchan's service, imagine the traffic it will divert to mapmyindia. Most of the people just need a little push to try something different.

warrioraks · 9th June 2020, 21:59

I think it's a bad idea. I am a BIG fan of the man and bigger fan of his voice. Love the poetry recitations and voice overs that he has done.
But that does not mean I want my apps, personal assistants and everything around me to sound like him.

To take an example - I am unable to appreciate the magic of his voice when he tries to sell hair-oil on television.
Strongly feel that Big B lending voice to Google maps will be no different and shall soon be like 'just another voice'.

rvd8732 · 9th June 2020, 23:35

I am fine with the default voice that google is offering already and hoping I still get to choose default voice.

RD150 · 10th June 2020, 09:48

After reaching the destination " khush to bohot hoge tum, hai "

lemedico · 10th June 2020, 10:47

With all the deep fake AI in play nowadays, won't it be easier to licence with consent, multiple famous voices from across the globe without actually needing the celebrity to sit in a recording studio to do the lines? I'd like Morgan Freeman!

myavu · 10th June 2020, 12:23

Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hai... naam hai Shahenshah"

Ok Shahenshah

GrammarNazi · 23rd June 2020, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

Imagine Russel Peters occasionally telling you to, "Take a sharp left, or else, somebodys gonna get a hurt real bad."

I think it'd be great if Google could allow individual people to record the whole set of instructions for voice assist, and choose them just like "stickers" / "emoticons". There would be SO MANY people who'd want voices of their favourite personalities...

Update
Just came to know that Waze allows users to record their own driving instructions!

And the process is quite simple too!

Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps-screenshot_20200623125730666_com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.jpg

Would be great if Google allowed Android users to do this too !

paragsachania · 23rd June 2020, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

Update
Just came to know that Waze allows users to record their own driving instructions!

Would be great if Google allowed Android users to do this too !

Salman Khan would never reach his desired destination if he ever does that. Because he doesn't listen to himself once he has committed (Pun Intended).

vredesbyrd · 3rd October 2020, 12:24

Absolutely not. Unacceptable. I'd rather have James May shouting "YOU INFANTILE PILLOCK!" when I miss a turn. Or better, Shinomiya Kaguya's soothing voice. What's with companies trying to "bollywood" everything? I mean, people will still used maps when they need navigation.

8th June 2020, 15:14	#16
vivek95 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bombay/Belgaum Posts: 635 Thanked: 5,179 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps Wow. This is amazing piece of news. Can't wait to hear Bachchan saab's voice regularly while driving. His heavy voice and clear pronounciation of Hindi words is awe inspiring. Hope this rolls out at the earliest.
	() Thanks

8th June 2020, 19:02	#17
14000rpm Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2,444 Thanked: 6,057 Times View My Garage	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps Such custom options are always welcome but then, if Google is paying top dollar for his voice, would it be a paid option for users? Years ago TomTom had a paid option to buy and download voices of choice. At that time, I remember Snoop Dogg being one. Jeremy Clarkson's voice was available for a brief period of time only. Don't recollect what the other options were.
	(1) Thanks

8th June 2020, 19:37	#18
libranof1987 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: All over! Posts: 7,859 Thanked: 19,595 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps Several years ago, Google pulled a similar stunt by getting Morgan Freeman to do a voice-over on Waze. That was when he was promotion his movie "London Has Fallen". https://www.travelandleisure.com/tra...eman-gps-voice I suspect getting Mr. Bachchan must be a similar marketing gimmick than a full-fledged voice option. But then, knowing his flair for marketing products, you never know!
	(1) Thanks

9th June 2020, 19:29	#19
aveemashfaq BHPian Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: warangal Posts: 144 Thanked: 433 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps I actually hate the Indian lady's voice in Google Maps. I change my phone settings to Google US and get that american lady who is semi-dominant in instructing me. In all seriousness, the coarse nature of Amitabh Bachchan's voice may make it hard to understand in a hurry.
	() Thanks

9th June 2020, 19:37	#20
Miyata BHPian Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 342 Thanked: 1,708 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps But why would google waste its money on this? They already are the most popular and almost a monopoly in the field...doesn't make any sense to me. On the right pronunciation of street names - Just a matter of time before NLP/NLU takes care of that. No additional expense for Google. They ought to have done it already. Don't know what their hold up is. Last edited by Miyata : 9th June 2020 at 19:42.
	(1) Thanks

9th June 2020, 21:59	#22
warrioraks BHPian Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Delhi Posts: 533 Thanked: 3,925 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps I think it's a bad idea. I am a BIG fan of the man and bigger fan of his voice. Love the poetry recitations and voice overs that he has done. But that does not mean I want my apps, personal assistants and everything around me to sound like him. To take an example - I am unable to appreciate the magic of his voice when he tries to sell hair-oil on television. Strongly feel that Big B lending voice to Google maps will be no different and shall soon be like 'just another voice'.
	() Thanks

9th June 2020, 23:35	#23
rvd8732 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 70 Thanked: 115 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps I am fine with the default voice that google is offering already and hoping I still get to choose default voice.
	(1) Thanks

10th June 2020, 09:48	#24
RD150 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 224 Thanked: 676 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps After reaching the destination " khush to bohot hoge tum, hai "
	(3) Thanks

10th June 2020, 10:47	#25
lemedico BHPian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Agra, Cambridge Posts: 681 Thanked: 2,080 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps With all the deep fake AI in play nowadays, won't it be easier to licence with consent, multiple famous voices from across the globe without actually needing the celebrity to sit in a recording studio to do the lines? I'd like Morgan Freeman!
	() Thanks

10th June 2020, 12:23	#26
myavu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Delhi - Kochi Posts: 1,550 Thanked: 1,906 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hai... naam hai Shahenshah" Ok Shahenshah
	() Thanks

3rd October 2020, 12:24	#29
vredesbyrd Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: UP32/Freeport 7 Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 3,690 Times	Re: Rumour: Amitabh Bachchan to lend his voice to Google Maps Absolutely not. Unacceptable. I'd rather have James May shouting "YOU INFANTILE PILLOCK!" when I miss a turn. Or better, Shinomiya Kaguya's soothing voice. What's with companies trying to "bollywood" everything? I mean, people will still used maps when they need navigation.
	() Thanks