Hold onto your cowboy hats and sticky bombs, because there’s a drama brewing in the Grand Theft Auto universe! Ned Luke, the iconic voice actor who brings life to GTA 5’s Michael De Santa, has unleashed his inner Trevor on an AI company using his voice without permission.
A Michael without His Mayhem:
The controversy surrounds WAME, an AI company that created a chatbot claiming to offer “a realistic voice conversation with Michael De Santa.” Luke, however, wasn’t involved in the project and wasn’t even aware of its existence. He took to Twitter, calling the whole thing “fking bullst” and slamming WAME for “ripping people off with some lame computer estimation of my voice.”
The Right to One’s Virtual Voice:
Luke’s reaction is understandable. As a voice actor, his vocal performance is a major part of his artistic identity and livelihood. Using his voice without consent, even digitally, undermines his professional rights and potentially tarnishes his reputation.
More Than Just a Game:
This incident goes beyond just a spat between a voice actor and an AI company. It raises important questions about ownership and control in the digital age. When it comes to our digital avatars and representations, who holds the rights? Can our voice, captured in a virtual space, be used without our consent?
The Future of AI and Voices:
As AI technology advances, the ability to create realistic human-like voices will only become more sophisticated. This incident serves as a reminder of the ethical considerations surrounding this technology. We need to ensure that AI is used responsibly and that individuals have control over how their digital identities are represented.
What’s Next for Michael?
While Luke’s outburst is justified, it’s unlikely WAME will face any legal consequences for their actions. However, this incident could have wider implications for the industry and potentially lead to stricter regulations around the use of AI-generated voices.
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