"We are looking for Text-To-Speak (TTS) expertise to help or advise us on improving the default voice of the Linux desktop."

Check if whatever is left of Mycroft AI has anything useful for you.

Note that this is a link to a Mastodon post - commenting here doesn't necessarily reach @sonny.

Find the original post here: https://floss.social/@sonny/111533945050274953

I understand that The Emperor has some Martian Tech-Priests that will help in exchange for toasters.....

funding for piper!

This! Good tts (piper for example) is key.

• apps supporting modern screen reader stack, including wayland
• good stable screenreaders
• the entire OS supporting the screenreader not only as a GUI-level service
• very good voices especially when set very fast

Follow the blogs for Year of the Voice initiative from Home Assistant. There will be lots of pointers for the journey they've taken this year getting TTS and STT working for HA.