Sir David Attenborough has issued a strongly worded assertion criticizing the numerous AI voice clones that mimic the world-famous broadcaster, calling it id theft.
A BBC report demonstrated how AI-generated voice clones of the 98-year-old Sir David Attenborough have been indistinguishable from the true factor, and might be used to learn out the information.
In response, Sir David mentioned he was “profoundly disturbed” that AI was getting used to have him say just about something.
“Having spent a lifetime making an attempt to talk what I consider to be the reality, I’m profoundly disturbed to search out today my id is being stolen by others and enormously object to them utilizing it to say no matter they need,” he mentioned.
The emergence of generative AI has introduced with it various moral issues surrounding the impersonation of actual folks with out their permission. AI voice clones are getting used to place phrases into the mouth of celebrities and even recreate the deceased with out consent.
In the BBC report, Dr Jennifer Williams, a researcher of AI audio on the University of Southampton, expressed concern in regards to the lack of safeguards or a regulatory framework to ensure an AI-generated voice is uniquely completely different from an actual particular person’s, and the ensuing potential for misinformation.
“It feels like Sir David to me,” Dr Williams mentioned. “I’m somewhat disgusted. This could be very critical. When you’ve got a trusted voice like Sir David Attenborough who all all over the world folks acknowledge him as an authority, as a voice of reality, after which to have phrases put in his mouth about struggle, politics and issues that he has by no means mentioned or might not ever endorse, could be very regarding.”
In October 2023, Tom Hanks warned followers that an AI model of his likeness was getting used with out his consent in a web-based advert for a dental plan.
In May this 12 months, Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson revealed she had denied a request from OpenAI founder Sam Altman to make use of her voice as ChatGPT’s ‘Sky’ voice, then was “shocked, angered, and in disbelief” upon listening to a demo for Sky that sounded “eerily related” to her voice. Johansson then employed authorized counsel and requested for a proof earlier than OpenAI “reluctantly” agreed to take away the ChatGPT voice possibility.
Voice actors have beforehand known as out AI-generated express Skyrim mods, and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate voice actress Victoria Atkin known as AI-generated mods the “invisible enemy we’re combating proper now” after discovering her voice was utilized by cloning software program. Paul Eiding, the voice actor behind Colonel Campbell within the Metal Gear Solid collection, additionally condemned its use.
Photo by John Walton/PA Images through Getty Images.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
