October 17, 2026, 6:17 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Conversations with AI Characters

One of the new features is called “Interactive Story.” Audible adds a separate interactive experience to an audiobook. This involves a story running parallel to the main audiobook. Users can speak with a character and freely formulate their responses. The AI reacts and continues the conversation.

Audible is starting with Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The focus is on Renfield, Dracula’s servant. He initiates the conversation and provides the user with a role, a goal, and a starting situation. From there, users can decide what they want to say. Renfield responds in real time.

However, the AI won’t have complete freedom. According to Audible, the starting situation, key turning points, and Renfield’s personality are predetermined. Yet, a fundamental issue remains: When the AI freely responds to user input, it creates statements not found in the literary source. Whether Renfield truly sounds like Renfield or just like an AI’s interpretation of the character remains to be seen.

Importantly, the AI does not interfere with the actual audiobook. “Interactive Story” is an additional offering. Those who just want to listen can continue to do so. Currently, the feature is available for only one title. However, “Exoplanet” by Benjamin Percy is set to follow on November 5.

AI to Assist with Listening

Also new is the so-called “Character Guide.” This idea addresses a common problem: In stories with many characters, listeners can easily lose track.

The feature indicates which character is currently speaking. It also includes spoiler-free character cards and information about the respective narrators. The “Character Guide” is initially being used with Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and George Orwell’s “1984.” “Exoplanet” is also set to receive this feature.

Audible plans to expand this further. Users will eventually be able to ask questions about the production. However, how these answers are technically generated and how Audible ensures no false information is provided remains unclear.

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Audible moves even further from the traditional audiobook with the “Visual Explorer.” This feature presents additional visual content that matches what is being heard, such as images or maps of specific locations.

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While this can provide additional information, it raises an obvious question: Do audiobooks even need this? One of the format’s advantages is that no screen is required. Audiobooks work while driving, cleaning, walking, or simply with closed eyes. Constantly checking a display for extra content could detract from this simplicity.

New Features Are Just a Test for Now

Most users are unlikely to notice the changes initially. Audible is testing the features as a limited beta in the U.S. and the U.K. As mentioned, they are currently available only for selected productions.

Germany is expected to follow. Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s Chief Content Officer, announced to the “Handelsblatt” that the features will be available there by the end of 2026. A specific launch date has not yet been set.

Until then, it remains to be seen whether the AI features will become more than just a technical gimmick. Conversations with book characters, in particular, raise fundamental questions. The AI is not just meant to provide information about a work but to let its characters speak. This inevitably creates material not from the original author. How clearly Audible marks these boundaries and how reliably it prevents characters from deviating from their intended roles or stories will be crucial for the feature’s quality. Ultimately, a more fundamental question remains: Do listeners really want to make a book more interactive, or is the appeal in simply listening and leaving the rest to their imagination?