Show HN: Three new models by KittenML. <25 MB Open-source TTS. Highly Expressive (kittenml.com)

KittenML has announced the release of KittenTTS V0.8, introducing three new open-source text-to-speech (TTS) models with 14M, 40M, and 80M parameters. These models are designed to operate efficiently under 25 MB, making them lightweight yet capable of producing highly expressive voice outputs. This release showcases KittenML's commitment to fostering innovation in TTS technology while keeping resource usage minimal, which is especially beneficial for applications in low-resource settings or on mobile devices. The significance of these models for the AI/ML community lies in their balance between performance and accessibility. The compact model sizes open doors for broader adoption, enabling developers to incorporate TTS capabilities in various applications without requiring extensive computational resources. Moreover, the emphasis on expressiveness indicates a shift toward more human-like speech synthesis, enhancing user experience in conversational AI and content creation. With the models available on GitHub, this latest update further democratizes AI-driven TTS technology, allowing developers and researchers to experiment and build upon these foundational tools easily.