Voice cloning: Sir David Attenborough expresses strong objection to AI voice cloning
Sir David Attenborough has expressed deep dissatisfaction with artificial intelligence technologies that mimic his voice, emphasizing that he completely disapproves of the circulation of digital copies of his voice online. These remarks came within a report published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Sunday, following the discovery of an AI-powered tool designed to generate a digital version of the 98-year-old veteran broadcaster’s voice.
During the report, clips of Sir David’s real voice were played alongside the AI-generated digital version, sparking viewer interest and raising questions about the ethics of using this technology. The broadcaster noted that there are numerous similar AI tools offering this service online.
In an official statement, Sir David affirmed that using his voice digitally contradicts his principles and values. He said: “Having spent my life trying to express what I believe to be the truth, I feel deeply disturbed to find my identity being stolen by others to use in saying whatever they want. I strongly object to this use.”
Growing concern among celebrities
Sir David is not the only prominent figure to express concern over AI-generated content. Many artists and celebrities, including Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Ed Sheeran, have criticized the technology. This phenomenon has seen fans use voice mimicking to create AI-generated cover versions of songs.
In an interview with GQ magazine in September, Beyoncé discussed her concerns over the spread of this technology, noting that she heard an AI-generated song that sounded very similar to her voice, which made her feel frightened. She said: “It has become very scary, as it is now impossible to know what is real and what is fake.”
Scarlett Johansson’s experience with AI
As for actress Scarlett Johansson, who lent her voice to an operating system in the sci-fi film “Her,” she spoke last May about her experience with AI technology. She pointed out that a voice-generation system launched by ChatGPT was so similar to her voice that her close friends and even some media outlets could not distinguish between the real voice and the digital version.
The question remains open regarding the ethical boundaries of using AI to mimic public figures, and the extent of this phenomenon’s impact on intellectual property and personal identities.
