Voice actors raise more concerns over AI-generated counterparts

[midian182]

In brief: There have been plenty of studies carried out on the impact generative AI will have on the global jobs market. These tend to focus on office and other corporate positions, but the technology's effect will be far-reaching. One profession also feeling the pressure is voice artists, many of whom fear they will be replaced by human-sounding generated voices.

Wired reports that as generative AI advances, the technology is becoming better at cloning celebrity voices, narrating audiobooks, and more.

Generated voices still aren't perfect, though. Their inability to reproduce the intricacies of human speech patterns means they aren't going to replace humans in large-scale productions anytime soon. But those workers at the entry-level who do larger quantities of lower-paid work are likely to lose gigs to machines. Examples where the technology could offer a cheaper alternative to hiring a person include corporate videos or background chatter and noises in movies and TV shows.

In addition to potential job losses, actors worry about their voices being used without their consent, including in deepfakes, to promote mis/disinformation, and in pornographic content.

Voice actors started airing their concerns at the start of the year when it was reported more were under contractual obligation to sign away the rights to their voices. Many companies offer voice cloning, generating, or synthesizing services for prices as low as $30 per month. A few websites offer this service by just uploading recordings, making it possible to synthesize a voice without the owner's consent.

Tim Friedlander, president and founder of the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), said at the time that contracts allowing producers to synthesize actors' voices, often without extra compensation, were "very prevalent," and the actors sometimes don't realize that these clauses have been added. Occasionally, those who object are told they won't be hired without agreeing to the terms.

There was more outcry from voice actors in February over Apple's alleged misuse of their work for AI training. The iPhone maker was accused of using real voice recordings with no proper authorization from the original performers.

Wired also notes that generative AI concerns have been a major part of the Screen Actors Guild strike. SAG members want Hollywood studios to ensure their next contract includes provisions for "informed consent and fair compensation" when a "digital replica" of a performer is created. This also applies when their voice, likeness, or performance is altered by AI. However, this won't protect actors working in areas like video games.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/100382-voice-actors-raise-more-concerns-over-ai-generated.html

 

[RudyBob]

There are very few readers that are essential. Let them learn how to weld

 

[kira setsu]

If I was a small game dev, and was making a game, say an rpg, and wanted to use some voice program to do some lines, would that anger the voice actors?

or is that fine because I was never going to use real people anyway?

 

[waclark]

We have already started using AI for voice-overs in our marketing videos. While not 100% perfect, it's really pretty good. It makes recording videos so much easier and we can redo the videos easily if we need to change the wording of the voice overs.

As for Hollywood actors, I have no sympathy. They make tons of money and aren't going to be showing up in the food lines anytime soon.

 

[stewi0001]

If I was a small game dev, and was making a game, say an rpg, and wanted to use some voice program to do some lines, would that anger the voice actors?

or is that fine because I was never going to use real people anyway?

Or just use someone from the staff. That's how it was back in the day.

 

[letsgoiowa]

Already started using ElevenLabs to narrate our training videos with far superior results than our expensive recording studio and untalented, expensive humans. I can have it from script written and recorded in minutes vs waiting weeks or months for literally free or $30 compared to thousands of dollars.
This is necessary.

 

[godrilla]

If I was a small game dev, and was making a game, say an rpg, and wanted to use some voice program to do some lines, would that anger the voice actors?

or is that fine because I was never going to use real people anyway?

And then you'll have the few voice actor that sells their voice to collect royalties until the ai does a hybrid voice with all the other suckers to create an exclusive voice. Thus making voice acting next on the chopping block. Unless the media wants to promote the content using the said famous actors for marketing*.

 

[James Ryan]

And then you'll have the few voice actor that sells their voice to collect royalties until the ai does a hybrid voice with all the other suckers to create an exclusive voice. Thus making voice acting next on the chopping block. Unless the media wants to promote the content using the said famous actors for marketing*.

Honestly at this stage if I had a voice worthy of something I'd sell it for royalties as long as it was a fair figure. I'd go do something else while getting a decent passive income until the hybrids come along as you say.

 

[godrilla]

Honestly at this stage if I had a voice worthy of something I'd sell it for royalties as long as it was a fair figure. I'd go do something else while getting a decent passive income until the hybrids come along as you say.

If voice actors want to mitigate the inevitable
, they should invest in an ai that give you the percentage of your voice used is any used in these future ai generated voices. If such a tool can even be crafted. 2 can play this game. If Professor's can use an ai detecting tool to screen for lazy students using ai to cheat, this should also be possible.