Voice actors sue AI company, say they cloned their voices

Introduction

We are learning about new allegations that an artificial intelligence company stole the voices of two actors. Not long ago, Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of using an AI-generated voice that sounded eerily like her own. OpenAI's CEO has denied that they imitated Johansson's voice. Now, two voice actors have accused another AI company, Lovo, of taking their voices and putting their careers at risk. They spoke exclusively with our Jolene Kent.

The Serious Allegations

Both actors, Paul Skyler Lurman and Lanaa Sage, are professional voice actors. Their voices are their calling cards. According to Lurman, "Our voice is the foundation of our career and livelihood. Without it, we don't have a career; we're not putting food on the table." The couple claims that their livelihood was stolen by AI.

Back in 2019 and 2020, both Lurman and Sage were hired for voiceover work by Lovo. They were told their voice clips would be used for internal research purposes only. "On three occasions in writing, they had given me assurances of how and where it would be used— for internal purposes only and never forward-facing," said Lurman.

The Unauthorized Use of Voices

Two years later, Lurman was shocked to hear his voice on a YouTube video and later a podcast that he never recorded. "My voice is out there saying things that I've never said in places that I haven't agreed to be a part of. We are now in a science fiction come true, and we have a very real reality that we need to face," Lurman added.

The couple dug deeper and discovered that Lovo had allegedly cloned both Lurman and Sage's voices, breaching their respective contracts. They are now suing Lovo in a proposed federal class action lawsuit for violating trademark laws to train their AI.

The AI Voice Cloning Tool

Lovo advertises an AI voice cloning tool where users can upload or record an audio sample that gets turned into a custom voice clone.

"This is the AI synthetic version of my voice that they played at the pitch meetings," said Lurman. "Our certified teachers are ready to help your son or daughter conquer their fears of reading, writing, arithmetic, and more," Lurman's AI voice said in the video.

"This feels exactly the same," Lurman commented.

A Call for Federal Laws

Currently, there are no federal laws covering the use of AI to mimic someone's voice. "We need Federal AI likeness protection, and we needed it yesterday. We need a uniform statutory scheme that's going to protect not only public figures and celebrities but just about every person and citizen of America because AI can clone and replicate anybody," experts urge.

When asked how much of their future earnings AI might have allegedly stolen, Lurman replied, "Unfortunately, I have such an incredibly pessimistic view of the future of voiceover. So far this year, to date, I've lost 75% of the work that I would have normally done up until now, and I am expecting that to get worse."

A Broader Impact

This bleak outlook for the voice acting profession highlights a broader threat. "This is about protecting individuals who have a voice that can be exploited, and unfortunately, that's everyone and anyone," said an expert in the field.

Lovo's Silence

Lovo did not respond to multiple calls and emails asking for comment. The issue of AI stealing voices resonates beyond this particular case. AI was also a major part of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild Union negotiations last year, aiming to protect actors' voices and likenesses.

Previous Incidents and Legal Strategies

"This has happened to me where they took my face and my voice," commented Gail, a public figure, recalling a similar occurrence. While a cease and desist order was issued, the experience was unsettling. "You look at it, and it is me, but it's saying words I've never said."

Jolene Kent emphasized, "This is what the new reality is."

Keywords

AI
Voice cloning
Voice actors
Lovo
Scarlett Johansson
Lawsuit
Trademark laws
AI likeness protection
AI voice cloning tool
Federal laws
SAG-AFTRA

FAQ

Q: What are the main allegations against Lovo? A: Lovo is accused of cloning the voices of professional voice actors Paul Skyler Lurman and Lanaa Sage, allegedly breaching their contracts and using the cloned voices in unauthorized ways.

Q: How did the actors discover the unauthorized use of their voices? A: Paul Lurman came upon his voice being used in a YouTube video and later a podcast, both of which he had never recorded for and had not given consent to use.

Q: Are there any federal laws concerning AI voice cloning? A: As of now, there are no federal laws that specifically cover the use of AI to mimic someone's voice. Experts are calling for urgent legislative action to protect individuals from such exploitation.

Q: What is Lovo's response to the allegations? A: Lovo has not responded to multiple calls and emails asking for their comment on the allegations.

Q: How significant is the impact of AI voice cloning on the voice acting industry? A: The impact is substantial. Voice actor Paul Skyler Lurman stated that he has lost 75% of the work he would have normally done up to now this year, and he expects the situation to worsen, indicating a bleak outlook for the industry.

Q: What broader issues does this case raise? A: The case highlights the urgent need for legal protections against AI exploitation, not just for public figures and celebrities but for every individual, as AI can clone and replicate anyone's voice.