Voice Actors Oppose Licensing Their Voices to AI Companies

Recent developments in artificial intelligence have raised numerous concerns globally, which is particularly ironic since AI-generated content is designed for human ease. The American union SAG-AFTRA is spearheading a protest aimed at defending the rights of voice actors in the gaming industry, a situation that has now echoed in Japan where voice actors are facing similar challenges.

In Japan, voice actors are increasingly uneasy about their vocal performances being sold to companies without their consent, jeopardizing their means of income. This article will explore their grievances and the actions they are taking against these corporations.

1. Breaching of Voice Actor Rights

Concerns have escalated since many voice actors discovered that their voices were being sold to artificial intelligence firms. The main issue at hand is the exploitation of their voices, which are integral to their professional identities.

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Moreover, the manipulation of voices through AI can be seen as a form of disrespect, as it fails to capture the true artistry and essence of the original performers.

On October 7th, Aoni Production, a talent management agency, revealed a collaboration with CoeFront to share vocal data from ten voice actors, including renowned figures such as Masako Nozawa (notable for her role as Dr. Kureha in One Piece) and Banjou Ginga, a prominent voice in video games.

The intention behind these AI-generated voices is to implement them in various applications such as virtual assistants, navigation systems, robots, and medical devices. This scenario clearly infringes upon the rights of performers, prompting voice actors to take a stand.

2. Organizing the Voice Actor Protest

A number of Japanese voice actors have united to create the group “No More Mudan Seisei AI,” advocating against unauthorized generative AI usage. They established social media accounts on platforms like Twitter (X) and YouTube to raise awareness for their initiative. As part of their efforts, they released a compelling video on YouTube urging public support for their cause.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo4clO

In this video, renowned voice actor Nakao Ryusei, known for his contributions to Dragon Ball, expressed his disbelief upon discovering that his voice was sold without his prior approval. He shared his distress about the commodification of his voice, which represents his career and livelihood. He called on viewers to listen to the plight of voice actors facing this troubling situation.

The video culminated with all 25 participating voice actors stating their group’s name in unison, symbolizing their collective resistance.

3. Potential Impact on Anime Releases Due to the Protest

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in the U.S. serves as a cautionary tale for potential repercussions arising from such protests. Notably, games like Genshin Impact have been impacted, lacking English voice lines in their recent updates due to the strike.

If the situation remains unaddressed, a collective boycott by more voice actors could lead to significant delays in the release of numerous anime episodes. This should highlight the critical nature of these challenges for voice actors and the industry as a whole.

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