AI Vs. Voice Artists: A Tug of War in the Digital Era

• Generative AI
• AI Tool

Quincy Surasmith, a radio journalist and actor, epitomizes the life of many voice artists. Behind the scenes, they breathe life into characters, crowd noises, and even the subtlest atmospheric sounds. However, the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to disrupt this industry, putting the job security of voice actors at risk and raising concerns about the potential misuse of their unique, recognizable asset – their voices.

Generative AI rapidly advances in replicating human speech, from cloning celebrity voices to narrating audiobooks. This technological evolution has sparked fear among voice actors about their votes being stolen and duplicated to spread misinformation, create deepfakes, or appear in inappropriate content—all of which could severely damage their professional reputation.

"In the battle between voices and algorithms, the question is not just about job security, but also about the ethical implications of voice cloning."

The Impact of AI on the Voice Industry

Experts in the industry acknowledge that some jobs, particularly entry-level voice work, could be replaced by machine-generated vocals. However, the consensus is that AI can only partially replicate the emotional depth, dialects, and artistry inherent in human voice acting. For high-production-value animations, human actors are indispensable for conveying cultural nuances and adding a touch of realism.

However, the fear is that AI, being a cheaper alternative, might be favored by production companies for smaller gigs, jeopardizing the income of voice artists. Moreover, while AI voices could be cost-effective for tasks like narrating informational HR videos, they need more human touch that engages listeners. As Dan Lenard, president of the Word-Voices Organization, puts it, “AI voices are as boring as possible."

Despite these challenges, companies are exploring the potential applications of AI in the voice industry. Spotify, for instance, recently announced a pilot for a translation feature powered in part by OpenAI’s generative voice tech. This feature translates podcasters’ voices into other languages—a development that could revolutionize global content accessibility.

Concerns Over Voice Cloning

Alongside the threat to job security, voice artists fear their voices could be used to create new content without their consent. The use of AI to clone the late Anthony Bourdain's voice for a documentary sparked controversy and raised ethical questions about resurrecting people's voices posthumously. These concerns have spilled into ongoing contract negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Hollywood studios.

Tim Friedlander, president of the National Association of Voice Actors, emphasizes the need for voice artists to watch their contracts vigilantly. If their work is cloned, their vocals could be exploited, creating an unsettling scenario where they must compete against their voices.

AI in Voice Industry: The Road Ahead

As AI advances, voice actors globally are gearing up to negotiate fair contracts that address these issues. Jennifer Kanari, administrator of the Voice Actors League of Kenya, highlights the increasing demand for diverse voices and the need for clear contracts on voice usage.

Jazz Mistri, a Kenyan voice actor, sees the unique African accents and dialects as an advantage in the face of AI advancements. “There is no cloning us yet,” Mistri says. “We have so many different dialects; we have so many different accents. There is a huge opportunity, a huge demand, for our voice. We’re in a great position to have a say, to determine how we interact with these AI platforms.”

In the evolving landscape of the voice industry, AI presents both opportunities and challenges. The tug of war between voices and algorithms is far from over, but one thing is clear: the human voice, with its unique inflections and emotional depth, is irreplaceable.