Voice actors worldwide are raising concerns about the uncontrollable use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to replace human voices. Voice-over actors have banded together to launch a campaign through the United Voice Artists coalition, aiming to protect themselves from the potential misuse of AI technology in their industry. The coalition is made up of over 20 voice acting guilds, associations, and unions from different parts of the world, including Europe, the United States, and Latin America. The members of the coalition are worried that AI technology will eventually replace their voices or be utilized to clone their voices without their consent.
Mexican voice actor, Mario Filio, who has voiced several characters in movies and TV shows, emphasized their concern by saying, We’re fighting a very big monster. The coalition argues that the unrestricted and unregulated use of AI technology could cause a loss of creativity and wonder and create a risk that machines can’t generate. The coalition has members such as the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) and the Organization of United Voices from Latin America. Carin Gilfry, Vice President of NAVA, reiterated their worry by stating, Our voices are our livelihood. And if we don’t have control over how those voices are used, we can’t make a living.
Although voice actors are no stranger to the possibility of being replaced by technology, since text-to-speech tech has already been used, AI technology has the potential to heighten the problem to a larger scale. The machine-learning technology can compare voice samples with millions of pre-existing ones, allowing the AI tech to recognize patterns and generate a clone of someone else’s voice without their knowledge or consent. Voice actors remain concerned that this technology will steal their intellectual property as they lose the right to control the use of their voices.
The actors’ concerns are valid, as technology is rapidly advancing, and the use of AI-powered voice generation in commercial markets is surging in popularity. With AI-generated voiceovers becoming more prevalent in various industries, the United Voice Artists coalition is urging the government to take a closer look at the impact of AI technology on the voice acting industry. The coalition’s statement suggests that the misuse of AI technology could ultimately lead to a loss of the artistry and skill that voice actors bring to the industry.
