Hollywood’s voice actors are among the first to confront artificial intelligence (AI) replacing their roles. Established actors leverage AI to boost earnings, while non-stars face a shrinking job market. Unions are advocating for stricter regulations on AI use.
Voice actors have differing opinions on AI. Some resist creating AI clones, but many freelancers feel compelled to comply. Stacey Rivera, a 34-year-old voice actor in Los Angeles, works for commercials and Netflix. She worries her work may disappear in five years if she resists AI.
AI voices are becoming common. A clone of Sir Michael Caine’s voice narrates a 13-hour audiobook of the ‘Odyssey.’ The British actor has partnered with ElevenLabs, a New York AI voice company. Matthew McConaughey uses this technology to translate his newsletter into Spanish. ElevenLabs’ marketplace offers voice clones of personalities such as actress Judy Garland and physicist Richard Feynman, available for legal licensing.
Prominent actors earn substantial sums for cloning their voices for uses like voice assistants. David Lawrence XVII, of SAG-AFTRA’s audiobook steering committee, stresses the need for fair compensation and protection against replacement. He declines projects lacking these assurances, saying actors should ask about their protections despite the industry’s reluctance.
Authorized clones are gaining acceptance as A-list actors and their estates license their voices. Morgan Freeman, after initially opposing unauthorized use, is now open to AI cloning. A divide remains between actors opposed to and those accepting AI use.
The Reddit community r/VoiceActing expresses frustration and few solutions. Some voice actors refuse to engage with AI cloning. Nick Myers, a Los Angeles actor, declined a significant offer to lend his voice for AI training, viewing it as compromising his integrity.
Many in the industry see a decline in job opportunities. AI voices are replacing roles in social media, online education, and low-budget audiobooks. Hollywood unions fought for AI protections during 2023 strikes. SAG-AFTRA, representing 160,000 actors, demands informed consent, compensation, and control over digital replicas.
A new agreement limits studio use of replicas. Actors must approve and receive payment equivalent to live work if a replica’s used post-project. Residuals apply to replicas in reruns, and they’re restricted during strikes. The National Assn. of Voice Actors warns freelancers against signing away voice rights.
SAG-AFTRA supports federal policy, the No Fakes Act, to ban unauthorized use of personal voices and likenesses. Debate continues with voice actors keen to secure their financial futures while upholding union guidelines.
Jessica Hepburn, a voice actor in Fort Wayne, Indiana, saw her income halved in 2023. She now explores voice-overs in erotica, where AI falters with emotional depth. Established actor Alicia McCalla embraced AI, monetizing her digital voice clone. Though lucrative, it’s unpredictable; her voice appears in unexpected projects.
ElevenLabs claims 10,000 creators earn passive income through their voice library. $22 million has been paid out, with creators managing their licensing terms. Industry predation is worrisome for voice actors like Stacey Rivera, wary of compromised ethics.
Unauthorized voice cloning cases are rife. Numerous lawsuits target AI firms for unconsented voice data use. Recent class-action suits implicate major tech companies in unauthorized data collection.
Rivera, an L.A.-based voice actor, remains cautious. She works on international Netflix projects from her home studio but finds union jobs scarce. Offers from non-union tech firms are tempting but potentially damaging, leading her to decline a significant payday to avoid supporting AI training. She recognizes the industry’s exploitative practices and fears acceptance of AI as the new norm.
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