Whippet replaces AI recordings with human voices

Whippet is replacing AI announcements on its all-electric Universal bus service with recordings by local university students.

The ‘Voice of Universal’ project, a collaboration between the Cambridgeshire-based operator, the Cambridge University Railway Club (CURC), CamFM student radio and the University’s Amateur Dramatic Club, saw students volunteering to record a wide range of announcements for use on Whippet buses.

The award-winning, all-electric Universal bus service, which connects students, staff and members of the public to key locations in Cambridge, has unveiled a new voice system on its buses. This update replaces the robotic AI announcements previously in use with recordings by local university students, adding a human touch to the service.

The Universal bus service, operated by Whippet and funded by the University of Cambridge, operates with electric buses every 15 minutes between Girton and the Biomedical Campus via Cambridge West Innovation District, the city centre and Cambridge railway station. Subsidised by the University, but open to everyone, students and staff can enjoy travel for £1 per journey, while members of the public can ride for £2. The U bus has been operating for over 20 years and is the only privately funded all-electric bus service in the UK. The service has bucked the national trend by showing increased ridership year on year, exceeding its pre-pandemic figures.

Ed Cameron, Director at Whippet, said: “This project is really important to us as the operator of Universal. We are really keen for the community to have some involvement with the bus service.”