beautfc from patreon - Early release of a new series.

Like it, love it, yes more please!

Chaosflower

2024-08-06 22:52:33 +0000 UTC

I love this! We finally landed on an asteroid, and they found signs of life from another universe and caves on the moon. What that means is interesting. Stem cell and gene therapy are cutting-edge and are going to be eliminated with the 2025 project.

Beth Kantor

2024-08-06 21:56:10 +0000 UTC

Hope to hear comments on the leak of 4.6 million voter IDs (name, SSN, address, etc.) especially in light of GOP-led purging of voter registrations, challenges to existing valid registrations, etc.

G00mbahC01umbu5

2024-08-06 20:39:22 +0000 UTC

I really love it.

Michelle Knutson

2024-08-04 01:37:22 +0000 UTC

Won't take long to get accustomed to this new format. Can't wait to see where this goes, and how many people are helped.

Ashley Fox

2024-07-31 21:02:36 +0000 UTC

Here's a science thing to get you started! Humans are naturally averse to change, it's literally in our evolution. Change means risk, and in old time risk meant possible death. You're not alone in being averse to change, but if the change is good it's almost always worth the risk.

Jason Ryan

2024-07-31 04:04:29 +0000 UTC

That's great. There were several pieces of news I hadn't heard about. So, is this Research Road going to be accessed from the Roads with Beau channel. I'm excited to hear the other new shows your Team is going to be putting out. I really like the sound of the History one. I joined like I said this morning after watching the Roads with Beau. After your recent episode showing the work you all do, I knew it was important to help...even on my fixed income. It melted my heart and made me proud to see all that your Team does I feel good knowing that in some very small way I can help. Many thanks to you all for everything you do 💙💙👍💙💙

Michelle

2024-07-29 01:51:10 +0000 UTC

I enjoyed it and would watch/listen to more.

Sean

2024-07-26 22:38:22 +0000 UTC

HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA 😂🤣

Trēva

2024-07-26 14:52:38 +0000 UTC

I completely agree.

Trēva

2024-07-26 14:46:19 +0000 UTC

It is different, but I could get used to the change. Change is hard for me and it works out fine after I get used to the change.

Jackie Brown

2024-07-25 02:27:33 +0000 UTC

Northern lights as far south as New York. https://www.space.com/northern-lights-possible-july-24-geomagnetic-storm-warning

Howard Roberts

2024-07-24 22:43:44 +0000 UTC

Need more cadence in the voice, other than that, the data is great.

Juliet Vorster

2024-07-24 19:41:41 +0000 UTC

I like the correspondents idea. Although, in keeping with the theme Science and Tech, perhaps we could clone Beau?

Deanna C

2024-07-24 15:43:34 +0000 UTC

Aren't there other people on the team who could record this rather than AI?

Bover

2024-07-24 15:30:39 +0000 UTC

I agree with everyone re. the AI voice and lack of a person giving us the information/data. That said, I’m new to your channel and it’s thrilling to hear the truth spoken in such a calm, measured way. The truth means everything to me. I gotta say, too, that your good old boy accent warms my heart. I’ve lived in New York and Los Angeles for nearly 40 years now, but I hail from Southwestern Virginia, and still have a lot of family there and in North Carolina. My clan is a small island of belief in democratic principles and a government for the people. We also believe in kindness. Thanks for both

Alexis Kelley

2024-07-24 14:53:38 +0000 UTC

I enjoy the extra information. I do not enjoy the AI delivery. Would prefer a real human. Honestly, my mind tuned out after listening to the computer voice for a few minutes. I can get the same types of info from other podcasts with real narrators.

EnellaK

2024-07-24 00:33:28 +0000 UTC

I do not like the AI voice

Sam

2024-07-24 00:16:34 +0000 UTC

The voice gave me a AI type of vibe, wasn't really feeling the narration.

DevilDog

2024-07-23 20:59:49 +0000 UTC

Liked the content. But I like seeing someone. It doesn't have to be you. I like your delivery. It's calm, down home, logical, but mostly you look into the camera and I feel like you are talking to me. This thing didn't come close. I'd love to see more of the 5th Column "soldiers" giving us the message on many topics. I started listening to you during covid. You have kept me sane through all this political turmoil. Thank you.

Trina Davidson

2024-07-23 16:41:28 +0000 UTC

Completely honest? I wouldn't listen, despite the fact that the topics are compelling. The voice (while pleasant enough) doesn't do a lot for engagement / energy / comprehension: for example, the pauses occur within single topics rather than between them. Maybe you just have an actual ceiling (the time at your disposal) (we've already drained you dry) and if you scale up, maybe try it with some humans on your team.

Gina Psaki

2024-07-23 10:02:46 +0000 UTC

I love the idea of a themed news roundup. That said, I can't honestly say I would be able to focus on an AI generated commentary. I work at a tech company and absolutely everything is focused on AI right now. With so many people working from home and feeling isolated, I think a live person would help to add a sense of community and build connection. I totally get being stretched too far to add another layer of content. What about a protege or mentee? Someone who can be the talking head for you?

Dina

2024-07-23 05:26:18 +0000 UTC

Enjoyed the content but not the delivery.

Marliss

2024-07-23 04:34:25 +0000 UTC

I’m on the same page as most. Did not like the voice, partly because the items kind of ran into each other. A longer pause between stories would help. But honestly I’d rather get the info in a newsletter than listen to a disembodied monotone that still manages to drawl. I don’t know if that’s more work than a video though. I appreciate how much time you give to us so whatever works for you; I’m not going anywhere. You keep my feet on the ground when my hair is on fire. Thank you, and your awesome team, so very much.

Cherizac

2024-07-23 03:38:18 +0000 UTC

I completely tune out AI voices, so this is a no from me. I think it being a weird fake southern accent made it even easier to let it get tuned out. I'd rather see someone else being the voice maybe? I listen to every Beau video Roads or otherwise, but this feels so soulless it's hard to pay attention to. If I'm in the minority, so be it, but I'll be skipping these. There's so much AI generated content out there that I worry this will drive distrust in the content. I imagine your team is writing it, but how do people know that? How do they know someone didn't get lazy for today's episode and just let chatgpt write the script and it's all hallucinations? I

Michelle Oshea

2024-07-23 03:12:20 +0000 UTC

Pros/Cons. I like the idea of the Beau channel expanding--maybe like a Meidas Touch Network with lots of contributors (but fewer sensationalist headlines). But I also dislike the AI-sounding voice and absence of a human presence. I know the content would be great, but my brain starts tuning out really fast. If you have trusted staff who could take on reporting duties, whether tech or anything else, I'd be all in.

Annelisejj

2024-07-23 00:50:22 +0000 UTC

Yeah! More!

Jeremy Horlacher

2024-07-23 00:34:42 +0000 UTC

This would not get any traction with me. More than the voice presenting is the problem of lack of depth. This is really little better than having headlines read out loud, with a sentence or two added to a few points. When I go after science and tech news, I'm looking for more time spent on one topic.

BitingTheHand

2024-07-23 00:00:55 +0000 UTC

I liked this overall, and would listen to whatever you and your team creates. Maybe slow down the rate of speech a little, add pauses or more segues between topic changes to give each space and let the listener adjust to the topic change. Or make it a little more conversational. Good first episode.

Eileen Serra

2024-07-22 23:40:34 +0000 UTC

I prefer getting my news from you and your crew so more is better. I'm okay with someone else or computer doing the delivery. You can't spread yourself any thinner, but we need real news. I am old and miss the Cronkite method.

Janet Michelson

2024-07-22 22:51:28 +0000 UTC

I'm obviously weird, but I didn't mind the voice. A little tweaking would be fine, along with more subtitles - I liked that on screen captions changed with the subject matter. I think that using a robotic sounding voice is an interesting artistic choice for a science and technology vlog; I almost felt like the information was coming directly from the source (some supercomputer that collects and collates all available data and translates it for human consumption). Maybe you could create a cartoon character like that to deliver this information?

P Jacobs

2024-07-22 22:36:36 +0000 UTC

I think this is a great idea. It works as a podcast I can listen to as Im travelling around. More of your content without having you stretched too thin, count me in.

Sean

2024-07-22 22:29:26 +0000 UTC

I understand there is not enough time in the day for everything that needs to get done. As some have proposed above a written newsletter could suffice. Even though I am a tech nerd, I am not too fond of many of the AI generated speech. It hits that uncanny valley where it just does not sound natural. Keep up the great work.

Richard Carpenter

2024-07-22 21:43:01 +0000 UTC

I don’t usually have time to keep up with science and technology news, so thank you! To be honest, I like the format. I don’t mind the voice and I’m sure it’s a sentient being. If not it’s a scary good AI. With it being the narrator’s first video it’s perfectly natural to talk a little too fast, which flattens the tone a bit. When she has a few episodes under her belt she’ll slow down and relax. In my opinion that’s all that is needed.

Deborah Patterson

2024-07-22 21:27:47 +0000 UTC

I understand that you're out of production time; as a producer myself, I absolutely sympathize. Rather than offloading the narration to an AI, consider making this an e-mail, blog post, or some other written format (see Violet Blue's weekly Pandemic and Tech Roundups for an example) and allow those who want/need it in an audio format to use a screen reader. Or, if the production of the AI-voiced video is relatively turnkey, do both and see if either option gets enough traction to be worth the effort. I'm not sure what the finances of the channel look like, nor do I have experience auditioning presenters but this also seems like an opportunity to do some community building. You have a wide audience, and apparently there's interest in this sort of content. There may be members of your community network who would be willing to be the talking head, or even just the narrator. I think the AI voice is going to be incredibly polarizing. Some people won't mind it. Some people would put up with it if it were the only way to get the content. Some people, myself included, find that they have to dedicate a lot of mental energy to understand what is being said in a way that is unnecessary with natural human speech. And then there's those of us who rather object to seeing a machine do a creative job a human could do. Beau, you put so much nuance into your communication. Even if it's unintentional, it's the result of a lifetime of experience filtered through a conscious, conscientious mind. It's a fundamentally creative endeavor, and machine-generated content cannot hold a candle to it. If you have the time to write the scripts and just not film them, let another human do it.

Matt Harris

2024-07-22 21:06:50 +0000 UTC

Sorry, while the content could be interesting I can't listen to that format. I didn't get far once The Voice started. Is there enough content for this as it's own show? Can't a section be added to the roads not taken? People can flag a specific topic if they want you to expand maybe?

Dani_elle_jr

2024-07-22 20:39:49 +0000 UTC

I hear you about having no extra film time, but I am going to join the choir—I need a talking, visible human. I feel like I’m on a phone tree trying to reach a human being. Maybe I’m too old. What I would suggest is that maybe you use The Roads Not Taken (or the main channel videos) to address these issues a bit more frequently: issues in civics and civic education. I consider ecological, medical, military , and other applications of science & tech to fall under this rubric. But I think the AI is deleterious to the ethos of the channel, the extent to which personality and active learning and communication play an extraordinary educational role. A bit more context: one of the biggest problems I see as a college professor is that my students don’t read. They have all sorts of technological means of acquiring information, but that’s not what most of them do on TikTok, and the internet doesn’t promote deep learning or critical thought anyway. The proof is in their writing—I have witnessed, in twenty years, a dropoff in basic prose skills that beggars description. If one student in twenty gets their possessives right, it’s a miracle. Given this situation, the answers to “Have younger folks read the founding documents?”, “Can they understand the prose of earlier eras?”, and “Can they do close critical reading of complex texts?” is usually a resounding NO—and I teach at a very competitive school with high admissions standards. I’m NOT blaming these poor kids. They have been screwed royally (almost as if they were being trained to sit in cubicles and perpetuate the status quo, to be ruled not represented, y’know?). But I think that everything from the survival of historical self-consciousness, of culture worth the name, and above all the knowledge, will, and interest to ensure the survival of our species and (perhaps more importantly) that of all the other living things whose annihilation our godawful overpopulation and despoliation of the planet continues to cause—all that hinges on reaching and teaching these kids. You will be—I don’t know, pleased? horrified?—that I have actually assigned videos of yours to promote discussions of civic concepts in college classrooms. They’re really effective tools for that purpose, but only because you are you. You ARE, literally and figuratively, Beau of the Fifth Column. You have a voice that reaches people where they live, that shakes complacency, that calms nerves, and that speaks uncomfortable truths. You repeat core ideas again and again, like any good teacher does. You are yourself a first-class educator, one of the best I’ve ever seen. I believe in a diversity of tactics too, Beau. Your video on the Declaration was a good thing under the sun. One fewer report on some current event to do more of that? Worth it—especially given your skill as a communicator. Until we make civics as central to education as STEM, until we make things like Peter Frankopan’s The Earth Transformed central to what we teach from an early age, it’s all hands on deck. The so-called Dark Ages weren’t especially dark, historians now know, especially if we stop thinking so damned eurocentrically. But what’s coming? Oh, as an educator and a human being, that scares me. So… all hands on deck. If you want to do a series like this, you might need a couple of on-camera adjutants who communicate as effectively as you do and can speak to the same audience—live and on-camera. My honest opinion. Thanks for all you do.

Michael Masiello

2024-07-22 20:28:34 +0000 UTC

There was a program called "TI Speech" (as I recall) and the algorithm was being trained to pronounce words from digital representations of analog sound waves in very much a "this"="that" format. Now they can predict which words come next and people seem to think THAT'S the impressive part. I'll be impressed when AI isn't trying to pass the Turing test and goes touring. Hire presenters off fiver.

E Mihm

2024-07-22 19:48:59 +0000 UTC

I would very much like such a channel - not sure about the delivery of it though. Was that an AI voice? Would rather it be an actual human relating the news.

Cascadia Rising

2024-07-22 19:32:38 +0000 UTC

If you can convince the freaking AI to add a little bit more enthusiasm, i'd might consider it. Otherwise, I hate the fact that i actually was spending some time thinking about this.

Fab

2024-07-22 19:31:18 +0000 UTC

I love the idea, but if you're stretched too thin for more content I'd rather just enjoy and support the content you can produce. As an artist/art educator, and having followed Justine Bateman's fight against AI in film, I'm pretty averse to leaning on AI for any creative endeavors.

Deanna Watson

2024-07-22 19:30:45 +0000 UTC

Science with a southern drawl; I love it.

Shelley Heard

2024-07-22 19:18:47 +0000 UTC

I watch 98% of your videos. I would not listen to any of this new series. Note that I "watch" your videos, I don't listen to them without viewing you on the screen. The subtle nuances in your facial expression and demeanor (and the t-shirts) are a huge plus in keeping me interested. This new effort to expand content is appreciated but the implementation does not work in my case. I understand the desire to put out more information but sometimes leaving them wanting more is a good thing.

Mark Snyder

2024-07-22 19:17:10 +0000 UTC

Love the content, feels like a radio broadcast. Who was talking?

Mina Krause

2024-07-22 19:05:35 +0000 UTC

Great content. Lousy delivery. Needs a deep breath and a downbeat between stories. Would be nice to have a real person in the video.

Bill Flarsheim

2024-07-22 18:49:40 +0000 UTC

Humans... Possibly puppets... Horses eating peanut butter... No AI text to speech. I thought it was amazing to make prank phone calls with... ...in 1987.

E Mihm

2024-07-22 18:30:51 +0000 UTC

Haven’t read every comment but I think I’m with the crowd here on saying go big or not at all. I don’t think the AI cuts it, and nuances in voice is part but not all.

Rob Sokolowski

2024-07-22 17:47:59 +0000 UTC

The information was very interesting. It was difficult to listen to the AI voice. It was hard to discern when one subject was ending, and a new one was starting. I’m much prefer to listen to your voice or any other human. All in all, I would like to see the series continue if a human could read it.

Christine Ratcliffe

2024-07-22 17:23:16 +0000 UTC

There are already many news aggregation services, for tech news and anything else. I would prefer that you not use your resources on this.

Topher Eliot

2024-07-22 17:03:16 +0000 UTC

I'm extremely reluctant to listen to AI voices of any sort because I like to know who is talking to me. Even subjects I'm very interested in, I'll turn off if I detect an AI voice. Especially, if it's just informational, I'd prefer to simply read the material on a page, rather than hear it dictated by AI. One of the things I like about your channel is that you're a real person with your own reactions and feelings that come through in your voice and your demeanor. The specific statements you make carry with them your feelings about them. If your regular videos were done in an AI voice I would probably stop watching them too. On the other hand, if you want to bring in someone like your wife or anyone else to record new series that you don't have time for yourself, I think that would be a fantastic way to grow what you're doing. Just choose great people. But I know you would anyway.

Zack Brown

2024-07-22 16:47:52 +0000 UTC

So, I love the idea of having a science and tech series. I get that you would like to have a life outside of providing us the key information and critical context. That AI voice - awful. the pacing is too slow but not slow enough between paragraphs. Also, one of the reasons I listen to this channel is because of YOU and the way you present the iinformation tone, intonation, wit,etc. If you are going to go AI, do AI of you but I also hate the idea of you in AI. Quite the conundrum.

Deanna C

2024-07-22 16:20:40 +0000 UTC

The voice and delivery are low energy and difficult to follow from topic to topic. I don’t need this as I follow AP, and Google news and other channels. Am also a scientist so my interests tend to be more informed than the average person. All that said, the science news tends to get buried, so this channel is a good idea in general.

Frederik

2024-07-22 15:52:51 +0000 UTC

I think (good gawd, is that voice AI??) the voice is passable; listening to it, it's clear it's just repeating your words. Now that I trust your facts and delivery based on your other "Roads", I'm inclined to listen to these anytime.

Ted Arbogast

2024-07-22 15:22:55 +0000 UTC

I am very interested in the content. I have submitted several science themed questions, but there was never time to answer them because of the hectic news cycle. I am not sure about the delivery. The more monotone voice doesn't provide the most important part of your videos, the educational aspect. When reporting on items, you would normally add that "this is good (news) because..." or for example with the item on the slowing down of earth's rotation/longer days because of climate change doesn't explain the correlation. I feel you would have given more context. My preference would be for you to continue to present your content, but perhaps a 1 x month roundup, where you can give us your take on items presented. Thanks for thinking of your audience with this initiative.

Deb de Jonge

2024-07-22 15:21:22 +0000 UTC

I'm personally not that interested in the content; obviously science and tech is political, but I feel like for every "here's how Project 2025 is gonna kill climate research" there'll be another four things I'm not personally that interested in. I do like the idea of getting a more diverse cast of people into the videos. Having a Fifth Column science and tech correspondent would be neat even if I don't watch all the videos, and it would help shore up content production for when inevitably something happens and Beau can't make videos at the same pace he does now.

Cohen

2024-07-22 15:20:00 +0000 UTC

look forward to everything to put out. Personally, I don't need this. I have more coming at me everyday than I can get to now.

gizmofish

2024-07-22 15:19:03 +0000 UTC

I can work with this, but there should be some pause between two subjects to better be able to follow this (English is not my mother tongue).

Björn Lammers

2024-07-22 15:05:59 +0000 UTC

I'd rather an email with bullet points with this info, if it's just going to be an AI voice.

Jennifer MacInnes

2024-07-22 14:52:35 +0000 UTC

felt like the voice moved from one topic to the next, without a clear indication that the subject was changing

Larry Robinson

2024-07-22 14:35:23 +0000 UTC

Jumping on the band wagon here. Not a fan of the AI voice. It kind of ran everything together. But I know recording another video might be a burden. I personally, would prefer if you had someone else either record a voice track or a video. Maybe like a science and technology correspondent type thing. More content without overburdening your production schedule.

Mary Steele

2024-07-22 14:25:04 +0000 UTC

As almost every comment says: love the content, don't love the AI voice concept. Even paying a local teenager a few dollars to read this aloud would be better, IMHO.

Alan Berman

2024-07-22 13:54:04 +0000 UTC

I agree with Robert - I love the content and writing! But the same two things stood out to me: (1) Having an AI voice read out "I'm not exactly sure that would be a good thing for most Americans." sounds a bit ... creepy or insincere. If you had a person from your team read these, then it would seem a lot more natural and appropriate to hear the very human concern; and (2) the stories flowed into each other and made it hard to track what is related and not related. When you deliver the content live, you pause or take a breath and we get a clear impression we are moving on to a new piece of news. In this delivery format we do not.

Susanne Hoeppner

2024-07-22 13:41:59 +0000 UTC

Not thrilled with the AI voice. It’s OK reading a short clip about reading. The whole thing is not my cup of tea. Just the same as you don’t have much production time I’m running short on listing time and I’m not sure I want to spend it listening to that voice. But the content idea is spot on

Weber Baker

2024-07-22 13:37:52 +0000 UTC

Think it’s a great idea. One suggestion would be to relax the speaker so she can have more of a personality show.

Paul and Patricia Sewald

2024-07-22 13:10:49 +0000 UTC

I love the content, the ideas and a little bit more information from the science world. I got used to the AI voice pretty quickly.

Patti

2024-07-22 13:09:57 +0000 UTC

I really am looking forward to scyfy news.

Teckriter

2024-07-22 13:09:40 +0000 UTC

I love the content. It is nice to hear science and tech news from a woman. If she continues, she will relax and her delivery will be more personal. As a techie, thank you for getting the science and tech news out.

Teckriter

2024-07-22 13:09:12 +0000 UTC

Beau…wanted to share a link to the Heritage Foundation’s 10 hear budget, which I believe is the basis for P2025. You can query based on US Agency, like Education, Veterans, Social Security, etc. You can also query on key words. I sugges the term “eliminate.” The details are shocking, much easier to find, and easy to understand. Much easier than reading the 900 page P25 doc. Please have a look and share with your base. https://www.heritage.org/budget/pages/policy-proposals.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR351i934exNyBXHGUj0hSmdRtDS83EUQy_42cpchxltnaDK_rPM8JPwYdQ_aem_SSiaKKcKv2u8idSdJ1teow

Faith Boudreau

2024-07-22 13:06:08 +0000 UTC

It works! It has a good southern accent like yours when you don't pay attention to how you are talking so if I had not seen it was AI in the comments, I would have thought it was your wife. I love science and history so a new show on tech and science would be interesting.

Carrie Vos

2024-07-22 12:59:36 +0000 UTC

It sounds...wooden. Beau, your videos always sound like you're having a conversation with us. It's very relaxed and natural. Can you have the person speaking be speaking like she's talking to whoever is filming the footage?

Anakin Dayton

2024-07-22 12:55:49 +0000 UTC

I'd prefer to hear this delivered by a person, rather than AI. As to the broader concept, I'd listen to a regular updates with specific focuses, but would prefer that someone spoke for this and was paid appropriately, than have many people speak for the AI, and likely not get reasonable pay.

Joseph Miller

2024-07-22 12:52:59 +0000 UTC

I think it's a fine idea, but I would say one small thing that bothered me a little. I think having an AI voice provide the information is good. I have no issue with an avatar saying, "Cloudstrike was at the largest IT outage in history." Even without the emotions, it very much reminds me of radio newsmen from the 70s and 80s all sounding alike and somewhat 'robotic' in their delivery. However, when an AI says, "I'm not exactly sure that would be a good thing for most Americans." That is weird. Removing real emote from a voice while giving opinion sounded wrong, for lack of a better term. I'd say you can leave the opinion like that out, as most of your audience probably knows what you and your crew would think of a topic. Finally, from a troubleshooting perspective. I did find that the 'topics' merged into each other. If you use this, find some way to better indicate that we are listening to a new topic. Good luck, and good on you for trying out innovation, even if people don't prefer it.

Robert

2024-07-22 12:37:29 +0000 UTC

Not a fan of the ai voice, and I already watch several other youtubers for science news as well as contrary Brin and fark.com STEM and fandom tabs. There are plenty of other sources for this info, and if you're already pressed for time, you should sit this one out in my opinion

Feygor

2024-07-22 12:33:08 +0000 UTC

I did not know what to expect and science was never my favorite subject, but this recap of recent events was wonderful.

Marsha Middleton

2024-07-22 12:31:40 +0000 UTC

That AI voice is crazy accurate -- for about 20 different regions. And sounds accurate enough to even almost trip over a word, like it didn't read to the next line far enough to include it. I didn't know AI could do that. I love it having a southern accent but even with the drawl there isn't much inflection. It sounds like someone who doesn't like or isn't comfortable reading aloud being asked to. Like they're reading the words but not absorbing them. I don't have the right vocabulary to accurately describe it. I don't hate it, for sure, but I can definitely tell it was read from Beau's script because it sounds like someone else narrating his videos, from the phrasing chosen. I, too, would be in favor of getting another local to read, maybe either someone with voiceover work or someone that does well in a cold read at an improv show.

Bonnie Patterson

2024-07-22 12:27:45 +0000 UTC

Feels a lot like the annual online training I've been forced to take every year.

Randonator

2024-07-22 12:21:39 +0000 UTC

Great idea! It’s important for you to focus on the most important news AND your self/family/health. A roundup like this was good and something I’d watch/value. Details: 1) I listened (always listen) at 1.5 speed, the voice was fine, publish the AI at the faster speed, it still sounds Southern and makes a shorter episode. 2) absolutely need pauses between ideas. Send it to Toastmasters. Train it in AI. 3) people find change really hard. These comments from current Patreon don’t read as very supportive. But you, Beau, earn new followers every day. New people don’t have the same bias or expectations. Even the regulars shift into change over time despite hating X at first. You’ve built a wonderful platform and I’d love to hear more without hurting your life.

Cynthia Jones

2024-07-22 12:15:30 +0000 UTC

Nope, I agree the AI aspect is a distraction. I'm out. Maybe use a drag queen for presentation.

GuyKo

2024-07-22 12:12:45 +0000 UTC

And, I’m sorry if this is an actual person and not AI generated. If it’s an actual person, maybe consider giving them the stories on separate sheets of paper.

Flo

2024-07-22 11:45:21 +0000 UTC

Call me a Luddite, but the AI sounding voice is not doing it for me. I think it’s a rhythm thing more than the slightly mechanical. It’s lacking prosody.

Flo

2024-07-22 11:44:40 +0000 UTC

I think the concept is great. One thing I’ve grown tired of is “tech bro” delivered science and tech news. Most come across as smug, resulting in me not trusting their motives. A woman with a southern accent is the perfect response. Not at all someone you would expect. Especially in this era of so many agenda driven science nay sayers. To me she comes across as believable and relatable. She is probably not going to appeal to everyone. But, I think she will be more relatable to more of the common folk who need to be brought back into the realm of science is real and it’s important to understand. Even if it’s on a more surface level, which is fine for a start. A couple of suggestions about delivery and content. First, longer pauses between stories. Second, a couple of more details in the stories. By that I mean answer the question for the listener of “what does that mean”. Which is something that Beau does regularly in his videos.

Chris Hegwood

2024-07-22 11:29:28 +0000 UTC

There’s debate in the comments about it being AI or Mrs. Beau’s real voice. This is the first other voice we are hearing so it is jarring as you say. It could be AI modeled on Mrs. Beau. There’s a pronunciation of two pandas’ names which surprised me how smooth they went, just like how Beau himself has said the names in other videos. There’s a couple other spots with pauses that could give the sense it was a human reading a script.

Tristan Lenhart

2024-07-22 11:12:47 +0000 UTC

I think what was jarring (just watched part of the vid, mind) was that the AI voice's script seemed to have been written in the 'tone' of Beau, but without the actual delivery that we're so used to, and that put it in the uncanny valley for me. Maybe write the script more with the AI in mind?

Øyvind Wallentinsen

2024-07-22 11:03:28 +0000 UTC

The content is not all that interesting to me at large. The tidbits sounded more like click baity hits on my google browser start page. In terms of the delivery, the cadence was pretty flat during transitions. So it was difficult to catch the transition to a new story. Between the content and the flat delivery I had to force myself to finish the video.

Tristan Lenhart

2024-07-22 10:31:57 +0000 UTC

Great content - Avatar voice just needs a little more expressiveness - thanks!

Stephen de Vries

2024-07-22 09:46:52 +0000 UTC

Nope. Nope. Nope. Couldn't do it. Just skipped through really briefly to see if I was missing a joke. I'd rather just read something than have a robot voice read it to me. That being said, I only sporadically watch the roads channel so I might not be the target audience.

IcyMidnight

2024-07-22 09:41:43 +0000 UTC

Beau, love your content and presentation. Honestly I do not know how you manage a work life balance with amount of content you put out each day/week/month/year. to your question, hate the AI voice it seems like one big run on sentence. How about letting someone in your production crew do this segment letting you have a break.

Russell Peppard

2024-07-22 09:15:15 +0000 UTC

I stand corrected. I can't parse AI voices past a few sentences.

Ayamanatara

2024-07-22 08:05:22 +0000 UTC

I agree, but I would also say that a lot of people don't find public speaking easy, but it does become easier with practice. I also agree that "seeing" members of the team present these slots would be good. Personally I think it would come across better for somebody to not be so polished, but talking in a conversational tone, rather than somebody trying to be a little too polished and instead being a little mono-tone.

Mark Curtis

2024-07-22 07:53:47 +0000 UTC

The voice became more animated as the topic went on, but it’s too flat. It sounds like a person who is trying very hard to pronounce things perfectly or who is imitating AI. That’s weird. Whoever is speaking will likely get better with practice. The real person comes through every once in a while, and that’s excellent.

Susan Bradley Skov

2024-07-22 07:49:53 +0000 UTC

I thought the voice was quite pleasant, but there was a bit of a disconnect due to not seeing a face to go with it. As people we pick up a lot of queues from looking at a persons face when they speak. Whilst I hesitate to say that Beau has an "honest" face ;) his voice and expressions match up, which I think is part of the reason he comes across as trustworthy. Also I would suggest a bit more of a pause between topics, just to let the last point sink in before moving on.

Mark Curtis

2024-07-22 07:45:56 +0000 UTC

The switch between topics. Somehow the switch between topics isn't ... noteworthy. It needs a change in tone, or something more than the banner at the bottom of the screen. An animated switch to the next topic, giving a second or two between topics might do it. The topics aren't anything to generate a huge audience response, so the tone if fine to me. Say hi to Mrs Beau, regardless if she is the voice or no. She helps keep you going, so she's an angel to us.

dcy665 .

2024-07-22 07:23:12 +0000 UTC

the voice was better at x1.25 speed.

Pierre-Antoine Augereau

2024-07-22 06:50:43 +0000 UTC

The voice (be it human or AI) doesn't punch anything hard enough to make it stand out. Variations in pausing and modulation need to be worked on. Honestly, I love your personal touch. What if some members of the team started broadcasting? It's just a thought. ;-)

Gingermoon

2024-07-22 06:18:15 +0000 UTC

I, too, think it is Mrs. Beau, not AI. A longer pause between bullet point topics would be a great place to start on putting a bit more expression into delivery. That said, it was spot on with no bloopers or stumbles, and I like her voice and enjoy the accent. Not sure we need more personal commentary if she is not comfortable with that (yet!)

Jo

2024-07-22 06:08:11 +0000 UTC

I'm not sure if it's the voice cadence or the content that's making me lean "meh". I'm kind of a politics junkie and don't watch much else, but the other videos I "watch" (i treat a lot of YouTube like podcasts) are long form video essays, mostly left-tube. For that reason, i didn't mind that there was nothing to look at aside from the set. It felt a bit like "up first" or one of the daily news snippets podcasts, which is not good or bad, just not necessarily something I'm interested in. I do think the voice is dragging it farther down than is the content, for me. If it was weekly, I'd probably add it to my regular rotation just because, but maybe not daily. Someone else mentioned the idea of crowd sourcing a narrator (I'd volunteer if that was a thing, and I also use audacity to edit my own amateur audiobooks to propagandize my parents with) but I understand that takes more time and coordination and would absolutely require auditions to make sure people have good audio setup, engaging voice, etc. I think there's something to build on, for sure.

Amy Gleixner

2024-07-22 05:56:54 +0000 UTC

I like the idea of crowd sourcing narration, but I can see how that might be more work than the team wants, since a human recording will still need to be edited and audio smoothed.

Amy Gleixner

2024-07-22 05:46:29 +0000 UTC

Scripts are 100% in house. The topics are pulled by the team. I do the fact checks. And the ai reads and script written by the team.

Beau of The Fifth Column

2024-07-22 05:34:18 +0000 UTC

Great idea. I don’t really care about the timing, because I only actually look at the screen long enough to see what the t-shirt of the day is and scan the shelves for new items. While I think that AI loses some of the nuance, if it’s going to simply be relaying info, ki don’t see it mattering that much and if it gives you the needed break to work on what you need to work on, I’m all for it.

Dave East (boctok55)

2024-07-22 05:31:10 +0000 UTC

We put a lot of work into the voice. Should've put more time into the pacing, but we can fix that.

Beau of The Fifth Column

2024-07-22 05:30:37 +0000 UTC

I'm not sure the voice was AI. I'm a truck driver from NH and that accent sounded Razor Grass to me. Just a blind guess but I'm wondering if the narrator is a nurse with military experience. I think it's cool either way and I hope it works out.

John

2024-07-22 05:29:12 +0000 UTC

My wife and I found the AI voice a bit jarring. Generative AI voices are improving, but they're still dipping into the uncanny valley. That said, it's certainly something we could get used to. Love the content, and we'd tune into this regularly.

John F Doppler

2024-07-22 05:25:54 +0000 UTC

Really appreciate the effort. Tried hard to keep an open mind about having to listen to a "not Beau." The delivery was so flat that I was often confused when a new topic began. Flat delivery affects how my brain received the information--the content sounded boring and inconsequential. Maybe recruit Ms Beau? With a title like "Research Road", I'd expected more substance then just a recitation of mostly bullet points. Lastly, I agree with Wcoasttigger, I'm fine as long as you don't retire and please take care of yourself and your family.

Frances Wong

2024-07-22 05:21:18 +0000 UTC

The info is very interesting but there is a disconnect with the voice (especially when the voice says "I." I do like your mention of a deep dive into some of most important documents. Many quote these without actually knowing what they say.

Joanne Bollhofer-White

2024-07-22 05:05:15 +0000 UTC

Maybe a different AI? The timing was off. Totally interested in more episodes tho!

Lee B.

2024-07-22 05:04:12 +0000 UTC

Love the name suggestion.

Øyvind Wallentinsen

2024-07-22 04:55:26 +0000 UTC

Replying here because YouTube loves to delete comments. I'm kind of divided on this. On the one hand, I wouldn't mind more content, but there's still pretty strong opposition to AI from some people in the first place. Not too into science news myself, so I'm ambivalent. I'd love more content about Ukraine, though, maybe a new series about that, written by you or someone else on your team and voiced by an AI?

Øyvind Wallentinsen

2024-07-22 04:55:18 +0000 UTC

Nice idea but as others have said I'm not a fan of the AI voice. But maybe it could be made to work. Still I'd prefer you find a human willing to help out by reading the script for you.

Rob Babcock

2024-07-22 04:44:38 +0000 UTC

Okay, my Spiritual Gift is Criticism. Not a great way to make friends. I usually apply it to live Comedy. Number One complaint there is often Timing. ⏱️ That would apply to tonight’s program. There was a lot of Good information given, but without pauses. Taking breaths and giving facial expressions is something that you do on the regular. It will take a little bit of time to acclimate to the new voice, but guessing that it might be your wife(total guess) I like it. When writing down the newsreader’s copy, maybe add stage directions. Stop for a breath or add in your personal thoughts not from the paper. Those are my quick thoughts 💭 Even the Best Shows start out with pilots, that are Rough AF. Thank You All for the Tons of Effort that goes into providing one of the best sources of Information/Commentary Channels Period. I generally get my News from CNBC/MSNBC. There’s a great deal of weakness from sources that live off of Commercials. And then there’s this DIVICE in my hand, destroying my eyes 👀 😂 Love Y’all ❤️

Robert Bess

2024-07-22 04:38:45 +0000 UTC

I have to echo what a few others have said, I absolutely love the concept and idea. I really did not enjoy the delivery in this particular video but will keep watching in the future.

Cody Killebrew

2024-07-22 04:15:00 +0000 UTC

I would like to commend you and your teams willingness to try and adapt new tools and technologies; especially in efforts to meet what must be a cacaphony of demand to provide more information. This one is a hard sell for me; though I am excited to see if this is an appropriate method of delivery for a portion of the audience. Have you considered bringing in other voices to help bear some of the vocal lifting?

Stoomie

2024-07-22 04:11:02 +0000 UTC

Yep... Love the idea, couldn't handle even a minute of the delivery.

TreeCutterDoug

2024-07-22 03:59:19 +0000 UTC

I like it. I think the voice accent is "on brand" for the channel. You might called this voice "Betty of the Fifth Column." :-) Updates using this voice might be called "Betty Updates." Anything that frees up Beau's daily time, or at least does not add to Beau's work load, is a good thing.

Jimmy Thomas

2024-07-22 03:51:50 +0000 UTC

As long as you don’t retire I’m good!! Work/life balance is important. Take care of you!

Wcoasttigger (E Hodgson)

2024-07-22 03:50:03 +0000 UTC

I understand needing to decrease your workload for time that is needed for recording videos. I would recommend trying to replicate some of what Matthew Patrick (MatPat) did with his YouTube channels if possible. He started with Game Theory and gradually added new channels for GTLive, Film, Food, and Style Theory. When it became clear that it wasn't sustainable for him to be on camera for that amount of time for week in addition to the amount of work that was needed behind the scenes, he started training people to occasionally record for and host videos on each of the four Theory channels, and was eventually able to retire from hosting them entirely. Granted, he sold his YouTube company to get more help with expansion and running things, so I don't know how things would've worked out for him retiring if he hadn't done so. I also understand that this would be highly unlikely to be a good option for you, since your ability to report on the things that you cover largely depends on you being independent. Don't get me wrong, I would hate to see you go, but if you ever feel that you'll be burning out, a new host would be better than nothing. Whatever form it takes, finding someone to host a side series and training them to fill in would be a good thing to consider long-term.

Nategar

2024-07-22 03:49:45 +0000 UTC

Sorry, Beau. I could not hear the content because the delivery was so awful. I'd rather wait for you to have time to take on more content delivery than listen to this. I would absolutely choose to skip the content rather than listen to the weird, draggy (as in slow) voice. I'd be throwing my phone against the wall in short order.

Sherri Reneau

2024-07-22 03:48:09 +0000 UTC

Great addition. Any information is always accepted.

Sue Koller

2024-07-22 03:42:24 +0000 UTC

I understand that there's only so much that you can do, but I really don't like AI voices. I know it's not the case with you, but there are so many spam and content mill channels that use them and are lazy and cut corners with their writing and research that just hearing an AI voice causes me to not trust that they put in the effort in other stages of production. AI voices make a channel seem untrustworthy, at least to me, and I'm concerned that people who first experience your channel in this way would write you off entirely. One of the reasons that I recommend your channels is because of how genuine you are. I would suggest finding someone willing to record audio for these videos so that they have the soul that only a human voice can bring. I understand not wanting to be on camera, but perhaps them only speaking would make them more comfortable.

Nategar

2024-07-22 03:36:23 +0000 UTC

I agree with Amanda Bjorklund's comment "Love the information, very much dislike the delivery." The voice sounds too artificial and I disengage almost immediately, but I appreciate that it would take some work off your plate and still get the ideas out there. I just wish the tech was further along and delivered more naturally.

Pull up the roots

2024-07-22 03:33:24 +0000 UTC

personally not a fan of the AI at all - I don't think the technology is there yet for it to be anything other than vaguely unsettling, and treading the uncanny valley. I sympathise with the production schedule though, appreciate all the work yall put in

KamasiFitzgerald

2024-07-22 03:31:37 +0000 UTC

And I'm curious why the A.I. has a Texas accent?

Meg Sampson AKA Blonde Avenger

2024-07-22 03:31:18 +0000 UTC

Yes on the content. The AI voice isn't as annoying as I thought it might be, I like her twang. There definitely needs to be more of a pause between topics.

Elizabeth Bilotta

2024-07-22 03:28:44 +0000 UTC

I like it

Kathy Jura

2024-07-22 03:28:35 +0000 UTC

I like the content and I like that the transitions are written in your style, Beau. It's a good summary overview and people who want to take more time looking into topics that pique their interest can run with that. I'm picky about AI voices because I'm a professional narrator, and while it's far from the worst I've heard, I still didn't like it. That's partly due to the pacing issues others have mentioned, and more so for me because the frequent woodenness and flatness are the opposite of the folksy style elsewhere on the channel (and invited by the script). If you'd like to hear it with a real female non-Beau voice as a comparative test, send it to me and I'll record it (on a volunteer basis). I don't have a native southern accent, but I've been listening a long time and could also do a version spinning that flavor in if ya like.

Jen Gosnell

2024-07-22 03:27:19 +0000 UTC

I don’t mind the AI. Your background clutter soothes me since it’s not mine🤣 I agree on the spacing and I miss you catch phrases but I’d watch a weekly drop👍

Sean Lantis

2024-07-22 03:24:02 +0000 UTC

Love the quick snippets. And the content is enough beyond just the clickbaity headlines I see elsewhere. The lack of clear pause between topics meant that I had some strange images in my head when two unrelated topics got merged in my addled brain

Michael Mauger

2024-07-22 03:23:07 +0000 UTC

Yes please.

Ayamanatara

2024-07-22 03:22:52 +0000 UTC

I love it, Anything that prevents you from burning out, but still allows for you to inform us about things that you are interested in, Is a great idea to me, I know other people will look at this differently, But I think you work hard enough, and to use technology to make your life easier and still educate the masses is just fine with me

Richard Hughes

2024-07-22 03:20:45 +0000 UTC

Love the information, very much dislike the delivery. I found myself at times trying to figure out the connection between two different topics as the inflections of the AI voice didn't indicate a change in topic. There are times where it's not obvious the voice is AI and times where it is very obvious. I find this very hard to listen to and focus on the information being delivered.

Amanda Bjorklund

2024-07-22 03:19:21 +0000 UTC

I like the content but agree that there needs to be a longer pause between pieces. The AI voice doesn’t bother me but it’s a lot of info in a fairly flat and monotonous voice

Janet Mills

2024-07-22 03:13:15 +0000 UTC

I would prefer less Real Beau than this. I cannot bring myself to listen to any AI voice, drives me nuts but also the reason I watch is you. I could ask ChatGpt to give me a weekly breakdown in subjects by myself. I am Southern and you give me vibes that I had with people my entire life. If this is something you choose to do, I wish you every single good thing but I wouldn't listen to it.

CBM

2024-07-22 03:03:49 +0000 UTC

Sorry. AI voiceover = immediate switch off. I understand why you might want to go this route. It just doesnt work at all for me.

Ben Dixon

2024-07-22 03:02:38 +0000 UTC

Hmmm. Not so much.

S Marie

2024-07-22 03:02:09 +0000 UTC

Love the accent. The robotic delivery is suboptimal but I would rather you be doing those other things too.

Allen Prescott

2024-07-22 02:58:27 +0000 UTC

I'm not particularly interested in short bits of science & tech news and would likely skip them. This sample felt like headlines to me. (Your regular Roads episodes don't -- I'm not sure if it's because your regular topics are usually things I haven't heard elsewhere already, or if it's because I value the Q&A section so highly that, when some of the news topics are repeats, I don't care as much because the 2nd half is Q&A and always interesting.) Also, I really don't like the talking voice. I like seeing a person (you're great, but if you're thinking of guests/additional hosts, I'd be interested in who you invite), but that specific voice -- it feels like it has a forced accent and the cadence is difficult to follow. Specifically, often the pauses between topics aren't long enough and it's actually a bit difficult to follow since there are so many topic changes. Of the topics you mentioned -- I'd love more deep dives on historical documents and related history/government topics.

Tanya Lopez

2024-07-22 02:53:21 +0000 UTC

The info provided today was really low level so it is a good summary of what is occurring in the world.

Marian A Miller

2024-07-22 02:48:44 +0000 UTC

I get my science and tech information from three other sources so I probably won't be tuning in.

Marian A Miller

2024-07-22 02:48:16 +0000 UTC

It's a visceral and immediate no for me, unsettling (and upsetting in a way it's hard to describe) enough that I can't focus on what's being communicated. I appreciate wanting to offer a wider range of information (especially if it frees you up to do other things your current prolific production doesn't allow for) but if it sounds like this I can't listen to it.

Sturdy

2024-07-22 02:43:01 +0000 UTC

I like the format, just not the delivery model. AI is just not comfortable to listen to for a length of time. There does need to be more break between topics.

Shelby Chesnut

2024-07-22 02:26:51 +0000 UTC

I love that you're trying new things. But it's your unique perspective, expertise, and insights that keep me coming back to your videos. I'm not seeing that here - instead the content feels similar to what I'm already reading in other news sources.

Joel Thibault

2024-07-22 02:26:26 +0000 UTC

I like the idea. The voice is a little odd. Sometimes she sounds Southern, other times not so much. Add another second or two between topics.

Jean A Stuntz

2024-07-22 02:22:55 +0000 UTC

Like the content, miss the human aspect - eye contact with the camera, pauses to find the right phrasing, natural voice pacing, intro and outro (though this will probably develop), emotions, ect. There's not enough variation in this delivery to grab attention or stick in memory.

Silentpurple

2024-07-22 02:21:29 +0000 UTC

I agree with comments about the irregular transitions. AI just has not yet mastered natural flow. Non-native speakers will have even more difficulty and the southern accent seemed thicker than yours, Beau. I did enjoy the content, but not sure I would want to receive it in this format. Thanks for all you do!

Robyn Hill

2024-07-22 02:16:59 +0000 UTC

It's alright, it works. The fact it rolls the accent 😂. This is probably way easier on ol beau. I still feel like the videos could have been AI in the first place.... you have the same background and character in every video. Using what you already got and uploading it to AI, there wouldn't be much of a noticeable difference.

Scott Kelley

2024-07-22 02:15:57 +0000 UTC

Perhaps a mechanism for the audience to "vote" on further coverage of the news elements? I agree on needing breaks between the segments.

Michael Linder

2024-07-22 02:13:16 +0000 UTC

Does AI really save you time if you include all the prep time? Does your AI model require good sources or are you still writing the scripts and letting it do the talking? Also, species go extinct all the time. If we're not the ones causing the extinction should we be preventing it?

Ray Rimes

2024-07-22 02:11:38 +0000 UTC

I love the content. Not wild about the presentation format. I'd vote for your staff or an intern providing the content, filmed offsite if that minimizes your time investment.

Micael Kemp

2024-07-22 02:00:45 +0000 UTC

I loathe AI voices, but I'm willing to work with this if it gets me more information from BotFC. One thing you could do to improve the experience is figure out a way to get the AI to pause between subjects. I have autism and ADHD, and it was hard to tell some of the transitions from one story to the next, possibly because of my disability. I feel like there ought to be a way to signal to the AI to pause.

Ro

2024-07-22 01:56:51 +0000 UTC

I struggle with the AI voice, my focus just kept slipping :( BUT I'm always looking for just straight up information, and I generally trust your judgment in selecting valuable topics, so I'd probably end up "watching" this.

FinalMeep

2024-07-22 01:51:04 +0000 UTC

I consume news from only you, NY Times and Scientific American, plus whatever rabbit holes y’all lead me down. I realize it was proof of concept, but I didn’t hear anything I didn’t know other than the moon/flag nonsense. 3 things. 1)I will support/tend to view whatever you put out because of your brand. 2) I don’t think you should feel compelled to put out more content. The video time is one thing, but there’s an entire other full-time job in your research. 3) I will be critical of the voice hesitantly on the off-chance it’s Mrs. Beau (presumably recording at her lunch break at the hospital) or a team member, but whether live or Memorex, it’s not really compelling. Thanks for all you do. You make a difference.

John Caywood

2024-07-22 01:51:00 +0000 UTC

I'm in. And with the climate of the country where it is, maybe you could find a nurse somewhere, to sit off to the side of you, and give an intensive first aid lesson

Meg Sampson AKA Blonde Avenger

2024-07-22 01:44:07 +0000 UTC

I liked it a lot. I was pleasantly reminded of what listening to the news used to be like. Giving information and not telling me what I should think about it. I love the new voice, but it could do with a bit of a pause or transition of sorts between topics. Thank you for bringing us something new!

Isha

2024-07-22 01:42:05 +0000 UTC

Also, great news about the new advances in vaccines.

Lisa H Wood

2024-07-22 01:33:53 +0000 UTC

Kind of disorganized, jumpy. AI just doesn’t draw my attention.

Jamie Throgmorton

2024-07-22 01:33:37 +0000 UTC

Is the voice AI generated or Mrs. Beau? She sounds as southern as me which is ok with me.

Lisa H Wood

2024-07-22 01:32:23 +0000 UTC

Not something I would watch/listen to. I need more than the lead paragraph to understand most of these issues. That's why I listen to your regular Beau5C drops: because of the analysis.

Meg Feeley

2024-07-22 01:32:06 +0000 UTC

I like it but wish to see a person and please tell me it's not an AI voice. Science and tech is so little covered I think that it's important to do. Good luck.

Robert Patterson

2024-07-22 01:31:15 +0000 UTC

Who is “we,” Beau? 🤔

Jamie Throgmorton

2024-07-22 01:31:04 +0000 UTC

I love the idea of the new channel . Anything that helps me learn more, understand better or be better educated. The voice is about as southern as my voice so you may want to change it.

Lisa H Wood

2024-07-22 01:30:56 +0000 UTC

I really like the idea. I think my main critique would be that the AI voice has absolutely no pacing, so there were a couple times where my brain tried to blend two sentences because their wasn't any real pause between ideas.

Henry Corse

2024-07-22 01:28:32 +0000 UTC

I agree that the static view is not too thrilling - and a little more animation in the voice, especially when changing topics

Jeff Whitney

2024-07-22 01:26:56 +0000 UTC

My A.D.D. makes longer vids hard for me. That's why I don't hit The Roads more often. That said, this was cool...

Charlie Newman

2024-07-22 01:26:32 +0000 UTC

I'd just like to put in a vote for this being a good idea and I'd like to hear more like it.

Brett Tamahori

2024-07-22 01:18:39 +0000 UTC

Also. Very inclusive way of presenting when you ask for feedback. Not a common thing I am sure.

Helen

2024-07-22 01:17:19 +0000 UTC

I liked it, but the items seemed to be run together a bit too much. More space would be welcome.

Stefan Kwiatkowski

2024-07-22 01:17:17 +0000 UTC

Good idea but I agree, it needs a human presence.

Gary Droege

2024-07-22 01:16:01 +0000 UTC

The more I listened the less my brain auto-rejected it, AI certainly has come a long way from the stale bot vo’s of YT past. At times it felt like an actor over-stressing that southern drawl. Firecracker from ‘The Boys’ comes to mind “US while-life officials” “Lower earth saddle-ites” Is there a dial to step the Southern accent down to 7?

Shaun Wells

2024-07-22 01:15:08 +0000 UTC

I love the idea of more of this content. I also can imagine you needing some down time. Her voice is monotonous in the extreme but I would listen to anything you feel is world content that would keep me informed as I haven't read newspapers or watched television for at least 10 years. Thanks for the content. Great that you are also bringing other people on board. A good problem to have. Huge thanks from Australia.

Helen

2024-07-22 01:14:32 +0000 UTC

This is great. It would be more approachable if there was a human on camera.

Mitch Eaton

2024-07-22 01:13:22 +0000 UTC

I personally don't like the AI voice. I agree with other people in not needing to see the person, it just the AI voice feels off.

Faye Bell

2024-07-22 01:11:32 +0000 UTC

I like the concept, the voice will take some getting used to.

Jo Swan

2024-07-22 01:11:09 +0000 UTC

Consider using a local human, or at least adding pictures and/or graphs. This AI is very soothing, almost somnolent without visuals. I do like hearing science news, though— just some presentation tweaks.

Erin

2024-07-22 01:10:35 +0000 UTC

Needs to have a live expert who can interact/provide insight into context for the episode. Just having an AI/newsreader isn't going to produce the sort of content that differentiates this channel from other offerings.

Scott Gosnell

2024-07-22 01:09:47 +0000 UTC

Information seems good, the voice presenter is good, the static presentation of an illustrated/cartoon background representing (I think) the shed makes this an audio podcast, not a video channel, as far as I'm concerned. I mean, sure it isn't necessary to watch the bearded redhead with the hat and the themed tee-shirts, either, but I'm not actually engaged. FWIW, my reaction; others may differ.

Amelia Lewis

2024-07-22 01:06:33 +0000 UTC

I like the content, but not the narration. It needs to be less monotone and perhaps a little faster. It is also hard to stay focused with a non-moving screen. Some basic level schoolhouse rock animation would make it more more engaging.

Sarah Sabbara

2024-07-22 01:02:42 +0000 UTC

I think this is with knowing and a great test run.

Byll

2024-07-22 01:02:08 +0000 UTC

I do like the topic, and of the topic list you gave, but maybe this is something another human on the team can take over? Even if they don't want to be on camera, a human voice would make it easier listening to and following along with the information provided. Apologies if I'm wrong and this is a human reading; it just sounds like a southern version of that computer voice from the 90s. Maybe it's the lack of inflection or tone shifts?

Random Fandom

2024-07-22 01:01:37 +0000 UTC

That was a little jarring, to not see or hear Beau. Or not really see anyone, just the shed and someone speaking in a monotone voice, not unlike what you would hear from AI.

Robbie Frechette

2024-07-22 01:01:18 +0000 UTC

I think a couple of spots were spoken too fast for myself. As a whole, I don't know how to improve it. Start with this.

cindy jewell neeper

2024-07-22 01:00:39 +0000 UTC

@Rebecca S Walker said what I was thinking about this video. I did like the feminine voice. Thanks Beau and Team for all you do to keep us informed in this crazy world we are living in.

TRESSA COLE

2024-07-22 00:59:02 +0000 UTC

I like science and tech. If I could make a recommendation. I know some people don't want to put their face on the internet. But maybe objects that represent their personality. Make a game out of it. And/or slides that represent what they are talking about. But I do like this

Shane Sanders

2024-07-22 00:58:11 +0000 UTC

Interesting, love the factoids, miss the live person. Was hoping you had expanded your broadcast team.

Mark Boatwright-Frost

2024-07-22 00:57:58 +0000 UTC

I like it & believe I would listen fairly regularly. The voice is much better than that of other bots I’ve heard. I normally just listen, so seeing a face doesn’t matter.

Tim Ericksen

2024-07-22 00:57:16 +0000 UTC

Data too important for a cartoon.

Shabazan

2024-07-22 00:54:24 +0000 UTC

Great content. I would prefer to see a human talking. A cartoon or animation makes the information seem trite. A face reading or telling us the news lends a significant amount of credibility. (Think Walter Cronkite)

Shabazan

2024-07-22 00:53:19 +0000 UTC

I agree with the comments on the AI reading. It runs the different items together and my neurodivergent brain has a little bit of trouble following it because of that. I did like the content, although I kind of think that some parts of it could’ve been explored a bit more deeply. I think having one of those cartoons presenting it could be more attention catching.

Kate Casey

2024-07-22 00:51:55 +0000 UTC

Love the concept, topic, and information. There needs to be a better "break" between one topic and the next. The lack of that was more noticeable in some spots than in others. The breaks between major sections worked better. Nice lyric quote at the end. I have a bit of (ancient) history with that song. Thanks for all you do!

Rebecca S Walker

2024-07-22 00:51:12 +0000 UTC

Very good...I'll pay attention to this one...is that your wife doing the audio?

Steven Roller

2024-07-22 00:50:57 +0000 UTC

This presenter needs to write in a distinctly different voice as it's read differently. The same pacing that works for Beau works less well here. Try more jump cuts perhaps? Also the different topics bring covered is a little jarring without some change in video to accompany it. Think scishow or ltt tech news shorts. this is just my perception and perhaps I've been conditioned to expect tech and science roundups to be a certain format. Though breaking into this space may require adhering to the same formats. I know extra production effort like video cuts and audio jump cuts is more work. Just saying to do well outside your loyal audience may require this.

Craig Baker

2024-07-22 00:50:12 +0000 UTC

Is this AI ? With a southern drawl?

Nick Tobias

2024-07-22 00:47:41 +0000 UTC

Was it really AI voice? It sounds too regional, and more like someone not used to public speaking.

Suzanne Brown

2024-07-22 00:47:15 +0000 UTC

I was thinking the same thing, I would love cartoons. I love it Bing news, it's like having the AP read. I mean that in the best way. It's nice to just get the news. No spin . I am looking forward to more and happy you are sharing the load. Your peeps want you to take care of you.

Jennie Kreiner

2024-07-22 00:46:08 +0000 UTC

This is a good way to spread information. By touching briefly on a number of topics, interested people can then pursue them further and in more detail at other sources. I am assuming that if there is something technological/scientific, such as a climate event of some note, that you would address that on the other channels.

Paul Rossi

2024-07-22 00:45:41 +0000 UTC

Nah. Would need a Beau voice and he's already getting swamped. And a puppet might make it...I dunno. Like, I would not take Elmo seriously reading science news, ya know?

Pamela Hineman (Lexy Wolfe)

2024-07-22 00:45:18 +0000 UTC

love the concept, and though the new host's delivery was a little awkward/unsure, I'm sure that the vocal cues/intonations/flow will be improved on over time.

Arcana

2024-07-22 00:45:03 +0000 UTC

I had a bit of a hard time listening. I think it's a combination of the reading cadence, monotone, and the lack of a face. I like the concept, but I think more visual interest on the screen and a more natural, conversational cadence would be helpful for me with information processing. I'd also like if the speaker introduced themselves at the beginning :)

GalacticGuava

2024-07-22 00:44:06 +0000 UTC

Like the idea, but don't like the AI narration.

Kelly Westover

2024-07-22 00:43:19 +0000 UTC

I love facts... ❤️

Patricia Stacy

2024-07-22 00:43:03 +0000 UTC

How about the Beau puppet....?!

Antonia M. [she\her]

2024-07-22 00:42:17 +0000 UTC

Love the climate change portion

Nick Tobias

2024-07-22 00:41:25 +0000 UTC

You might want to introduce the video yourself, even if it is the same recording each time. This feels like the kind of things that regular viewers would love, because it is just more content from Beau, but it might not play as well with people who are not familiar with the rest of your content, because there is a lot of junk channels that mass produced content using robo voices.

JamieLynn Selman

2024-07-22 00:40:47 +0000 UTC

Maybe a bit of a pause between each piece of info. I might be a bit thrown off bc your delivery is normal slower and concise. Great narration otherwise! Thanks for the video.

Gabe

2024-07-22 00:40:46 +0000 UTC

I’m a technologist so pretty up with this stuff, but I can see how others would enjoy this. However, that voice! Not expressive at all, like having the newspaper read to me in a monotone.

Gerald Simonowits

2024-07-22 00:40:06 +0000 UTC

I like it. Would definitely give this a weekly listen.

Jess

2024-07-22 00:39:39 +0000 UTC

That was interesting. I’d definitely listen again! Thanks 😊

Magdalena

2024-07-22 00:39:30 +0000 UTC

I don't do podcasts. I need to see a talking head. Content is interesting.

David A Bloom

2024-07-22 00:38:07 +0000 UTC

I like the idea but I am not a fan of the AI narration. This is one of the better ones but the pauses are still awkward and it blurs the stories together. Also would like to know why the sulfur crystals on mars are important other than “they are pure” so a little more depth to the coverage. That said, a human narrator that covers this content under your channel’s umbrella would be very interesting to me.

Cynthia F

2024-07-22 00:38:00 +0000 UTC

It's definitely a thought, but more resources to have someone animate it. Or if the reader does one of those VTuber things. They have an animation that tracks and responds to their movements and expressions. (A friend of mine's daughter does that. It's cute. Definitely would want something more tailored to the channel theme, though. Not Anime-styled furries. ;) )

Pamela Hineman (Lexy Wolfe)

2024-07-22 00:37:42 +0000 UTC

The content is great but the timing that the bot is reading is off. Can you bake in more of a pause between headlines?

Drew Lackovic

2024-07-22 00:37:21 +0000 UTC

Love the idea and the subject

Fat Gnome

2024-07-22 00:34:55 +0000 UTC

What about a cartoon character talking?

Beau of The Fifth Column

2024-07-22 00:34:33 +0000 UTC

I'd really like to see conservation science and wildlife news.

Sherri Reneau

2024-07-22 00:33:56 +0000 UTC

It would take time to get used to a new voice, but I definitely like the topic focus. Miss seeing a human face. Helps give tells when the topics are changing. But, again, just would take time getting used to.

Pamela Hineman (Lexy Wolfe)

2024-07-22 00:33:31 +0000 UTC

I like the idea but this is something I'd listen to more as a podcast than a vid watch.

KimBoo York

2024-07-22 00:33:20 +0000 UTC

Totally support adding additional voices to the channel, and more info.

Carisa Yardas

2024-07-22 00:33:02 +0000 UTC

Tech and its impact, both positive and negative, on social justice and income inequality would be great.

sandy

2024-07-22 00:31:28 +0000 UTC

Like… Count me in for views and likes.

Justin

2024-07-22 00:28:00 +0000 UTC

👋 Evening

Gabe

2024-07-22 00:27:17 +0000 UTC

Early release of a new series.

Comments

Like it, love it, yes more please!

I love this! We finally landed on an asteroid, and they found signs of life from another universe and caves on the moon. What that means is interesting. Stem cell and gene therapy are cutting-edge and are going to be eliminated with the 2025 project.

Hope to hear comments on the leak of 4.6 million voter IDs (name, SSN, address, etc.) especially in light of GOP-led purging of voter registrations, challenges to existing valid registrations, etc.

I really love it.

Won't take long to get accustomed to this new format. Can't wait to see where this goes, and how many people are helped.

Here's a science thing to get you started! Humans are naturally averse to change, it's literally in our evolution. Change means risk, and in old time risk meant possible death. You're not alone in being averse to change, but if the change is good it's almost always worth the risk.

I enjoyed it and would watch/listen to more.

HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA 😂🤣

I completely agree.

It is different, but I could get used to the change. Change is hard for me and it works out fine after I get used to the change.

Northern lights as far south as New York. https://www.space.com/northern-lights-possible-july-24-geomagnetic-storm-warning

Need more cadence in the voice, other than that, the data is great.

I like the correspondents idea. Although, in keeping with the theme Science and Tech, perhaps we could clone Beau?

Aren't there other people on the team who could record this rather than AI?

I enjoy the extra information. I do not enjoy the AI delivery. Would prefer a real human. Honestly, my mind tuned out after listening to the computer voice for a few minutes. I can get the same types of info from other podcasts with real narrators.

I do not like the AI voice

The voice gave me a AI type of vibe, wasn't really feeling the narration.

Enjoyed the content but not the delivery.

Yeah! More!

I liked this overall, and would listen to whatever you and your team creates. Maybe slow down the rate of speech a little, add pauses or more segues between topic changes to give each space and let the listener adjust to the topic change. Or make it a little more conversational. Good first episode.

I prefer getting my news from you and your crew so more is better. I'm okay with someone else or computer doing the delivery. You can't spread yourself any thinner, but we need real news. I am old and miss the Cronkite method.

I think this is a great idea. It works as a podcast I can listen to as Im travelling around. More of your content without having you stretched too thin, count me in.

Sorry, while the content could be interesting I can't listen to that format. I didn't get far once The Voice started. Is there enough content for this as it's own show? Can't a section be added to the roads not taken? People can flag a specific topic if they want you to expand maybe?

I would very much like such a channel - not sure about the delivery of it though. Was that an AI voice? Would rather it be an actual human relating the news.

If you can convince the freaking AI to add a little bit more enthusiasm, i'd might consider it. Otherwise, I hate the fact that i actually was spending some time thinking about this.

I love the idea, but if you're stretched too thin for more content I'd rather just enjoy and support the content you can produce. As an artist/art educator, and having followed Justine Bateman's fight against AI in film, I'm pretty averse to leaning on AI for any creative endeavors.

Science with a southern drawl; I love it.

Love the content, feels like a radio broadcast. Who was talking?

Great content. Lousy delivery. Needs a deep breath and a downbeat between stories. Would be nice to have a real person in the video.

Humans... Possibly puppets... Horses eating peanut butter... No AI text to speech. I thought it was amazing to make prank phone calls with... ...in 1987.

Haven’t read every comment but I think I’m with the crowd here on saying go big or not at all. I don’t think the AI cuts it, and nuances in voice is part but not all.

There are already many news aggregation services, for tech news and anything else. I would prefer that you not use your resources on this.

I think (good gawd, is that voice AI??) the voice is passable; listening to it, it's clear it's just repeating your words. Now that I trust your facts and delivery based on your other "Roads", I'm inclined to listen to these anytime.

look forward to everything to put out. Personally, I don't need this. I have more coming at me everyday than I can get to now.

I can work with this, but there should be some pause between two subjects to better be able to follow this (English is not my mother tongue).

I'd rather an email with bullet points with this info, if it's just going to be an AI voice.

felt like the voice moved from one topic to the next, without a clear indication that the subject was changing

As almost every comment says: love the content, don't love the AI voice concept. Even paying a local teenager a few dollars to read this aloud would be better, IMHO.

Think it’s a great idea. One suggestion would be to relax the speaker so she can have more of a personality show.

I love the content, the ideas and a little bit more information from the science world. I got used to the AI voice pretty quickly.

I really am looking forward to scyfy news.

I love the content. It is nice to hear science and tech news from a woman. If she continues, she will relax and her delivery will be more personal. As a techie, thank you for getting the science and tech news out.

It works! It has a good southern accent like yours when you don't pay attention to how you are talking so if I had not seen it was AI in the comments, I would have thought it was your wife. I love science and history so a new show on tech and science would be interesting.

It sounds...wooden. Beau, your videos always sound like you're having a conversation with us. It's very relaxed and natural. Can you have the person speaking be speaking like she's talking to whoever is filming the footage?

I'd prefer to hear this delivered by a person, rather than AI. As to the broader concept, I'd listen to a regular updates with specific focuses, but would prefer that someone spoke for this and was paid appropriately, than have many people speak for the AI, and likely not get reasonable pay.

Not a fan of the ai voice, and I already watch several other youtubers for science news as well as contrary Brin and fark.com STEM and fandom tabs. There are plenty of other sources for this info, and if you're already pressed for time, you should sit this one out in my opinion

I did not know what to expect and science was never my favorite subject, but this recap of recent events was wonderful.

Feels a lot like the annual online training I've been forced to take every year.

Nope, I agree the AI aspect is a distraction. I'm out. Maybe use a drag queen for presentation.

And, I’m sorry if this is an actual person and not AI generated. If it’s an actual person, maybe consider giving them the stories on separate sheets of paper.

Call me a Luddite, but the AI sounding voice is not doing it for me. I think it’s a rhythm thing more than the slightly mechanical. It’s lacking prosody.

I think what was jarring (just watched part of the vid, mind) was that the AI voice's script seemed to have been written in the 'tone' of Beau, but without the actual delivery that we're so used to, and that put it in the uncanny valley for me. Maybe write the script more with the AI in mind?

Great content - Avatar voice just needs a little more expressiveness - thanks!

Nope. Nope. Nope. Couldn't do it. Just skipped through really briefly to see if I was missing a joke. I'd rather just read something than have a robot voice read it to me. That being said, I only sporadically watch the roads channel so I might not be the target audience.

I stand corrected. I can't parse AI voices past a few sentences.

the voice was better at x1.25 speed.

The voice (be it human or AI) doesn't punch anything hard enough to make it stand out. Variations in pausing and modulation need to be worked on. Honestly, I love your personal touch. What if some members of the team started broadcasting? It's just a thought. ;-)

I like the idea of crowd sourcing narration, but I can see how that might be more work than the team wants, since a human recording will still need to be edited and audio smoothed.

Scripts are 100% in house. The topics are pulled by the team. I do the fact checks. And the ai reads and script written by the team.

We put a lot of work into the voice. Should've put more time into the pacing, but we can fix that.

I'm not sure the voice was AI. I'm a truck driver from NH and that accent sounded Razor Grass to me. Just a blind guess but I'm wondering if the narrator is a nurse with military experience. I think it's cool either way and I hope it works out.

My wife and I found the AI voice a bit jarring. Generative AI voices are improving, but they're still dipping into the uncanny valley. That said, it's certainly something we could get used to. Love the content, and we'd tune into this regularly.

The info is very interesting but there is a disconnect with the voice (especially when the voice says "I." I do like your mention of a deep dive into some of most important documents. Many quote these without actually knowing what they say.

Maybe a different AI? The timing was off. Totally interested in more episodes tho!

Love the name suggestion.

Nice idea but as others have said I'm not a fan of the AI voice. But maybe it could be made to work. Still I'd prefer you find a human willing to help out by reading the script for you.

I have to echo what a few others have said, I absolutely love the concept and idea. I really did not enjoy the delivery in this particular video but will keep watching in the future.

Yep... Love the idea, couldn't handle even a minute of the delivery.

I like it. I think the voice accent is "on brand" for the channel. You might called this voice "Betty of the Fifth Column." :-) Updates using this voice might be called "Betty Updates." Anything that frees up Beau's daily time, or at least does not add to Beau's work load, is a good thing.

As long as you don’t retire I’m good!! Work/life balance is important. Take care of you!

Great addition. Any information is always accepted.

personally not a fan of the AI at all - I don't think the technology is there yet for it to be anything other than vaguely unsettling, and treading the uncanny valley. I sympathise with the production schedule though, appreciate all the work yall put in

And I'm curious why the A.I. has a Texas accent?

Yes on the content. The AI voice isn't as annoying as I thought it might be, I like her twang. There definitely needs to be more of a pause between topics.

I like it

I don’t mind the AI. Your background clutter soothes me since it’s not mine🤣 I agree on the spacing and I miss you catch phrases but I’d watch a weekly drop👍

Love the quick snippets. And the content is enough beyond just the clickbaity headlines I see elsewhere. The lack of clear pause between topics meant that I had some strange images in my head when two unrelated topics got merged in my addled brain

Yes please.