Voice Actors Beware: Your voice could be cloned and sold without your consent
Freelancers, especially voice actors, are in the spotlight after a BBC report revealed a disturbing trend: a tech company allegedly stole and cloned voices by hiring voice actors through Fiverr, then sold them for mass use without permission. This incident highlights the potential pitfalls of AI technology and its impact on the creative industry, particularly for freelancers whose voices are their livelihood.
The report details how voice actors were lured into recording scripts under false pretences, only to find their voices replicated and sold for commercial use.
How did this happen?
Partners and voice-over artists Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage, were shocked to hear AI voices eerily similar to their own on a podcast discussing AI’s impact on the entertainment industry. They discovered that a text-to-speech platform, Lovo, had reportedly cloned their voices without their knowledge or consent. The couple alleges that Lovo obtained their voices through deceptive means on the freelance job platform Fiverr. They believe they were tricked into providing voice recordings for seemingly generic projects, which were then used to train Lovo’s voice-cloning software.
“A tech company stole our voices, made AI clones of them, and sold them possibly hundreds of thousands of times,” Linnea said in the BBC report.
The couple is now suing Lovo for unauthorised use of their voices.
How can freelance artists’ voices be cloned with AI?
Who better to explain how voices can be cloned than the very website that caused Paul and Linnea’s upset? Lovo’s website explains what is real-time voice cloning:
Real-time voice cloning uses a generative model and neural networks to create a digital copy of a human voice. The generative model is a statistical model trained on a data set of human voice samples. It gives a statistical representation of human voices by using a process called spectrogram analysis. The neural networks are machine learning algorithms that train the generative model to produce the AI voice clone.
Once trained, the generative model can generate an AI clone voice in real-time. These models are more advanced than those used for traditional TTS. They can create a more accurate reproduction of the original model. It also allows input from a person speaking in real time without uploading text. Cloning straight from speech saves production time and allows the speaker to add in their own speech inflections.
Ethical and legal concerns for freelancers
This raises serious ethical and legal concerns about consent, intellectual property rights, and the future of voice acting in an increasingly AI-driven world.
While AI offers exciting possibilities for creative expression and efficiency, this incident underscores the importance of protecting your intellectual property and being cautious when working with new technologies. As freelancers, you are your own brand, and your voice is a valuable asset.
The implications of this story extend beyond voice actors. Any freelancer whose work involves creative output, especially those in media, entertainment, and related industries, should be vigilant. This could include writers, musicians, artists, and anyone whose intellectual property is vulnerable to unauthorised replication or use.
Key Takeaways:
- Protect your intellectual property. Always read the fine print and be wary of contracts that grant broad rights to your work or voice.
- Stay informed about AI technology. Keep up with the latest developments and understand how they might affect your industry.
- Be cautious when working with new companies or technologies. Do your due diligence and research the company before agreeing to any work.
- Know your rights. If you believe your intellectual property has been infringed upon, seek legal advice.
This story serves as a stark reminder that the digital landscape is constantly evolving. Equally, the unethical means to make a buck at the expense of small business owners and freelancers. While technology offers exciting opportunities, it also presents new challenges. By staying informed, protecting your intellectual property, and being cautious, you can navigate these changes and safeguard your work.
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