Voice actors are facing challenges as artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to generate synthetic versions of their voices. Advocacy organizations and actors have raised concerns about contractual obligations that require actors to sign away rights to their voices without additional compensation. The rise of voice-generating AI threatens to impact the voice acting industry and push some actors out of work. The ease of synthesizing voices using AI has been demonstrated by a beta program from ElevenLabs, which was used to generate voices of celebrities. The use of synthetic voices raises questions about the value of human performance and the need for ongoing consent. Many companies now offer voice cloning services using AI, which can be done at a low cost. This technology poses a threat to the livelihoods of voice actors, especially those who rely on non-synthetic voice roles. The National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) has highlighted the prevalence of contractual clauses that give producers the right to synthesize an actor’s voice without additional compensation. The industry is at risk of losing certain segments of voice actors, particularly those who work in blue-collar jobs and pursue voice acting as a secondary career. ElevenLabs sees a future where AI and voice actors collaborate, but some actors argue that this undermines their ability to make a living. The voice acting industry needs to ensure that voice actors are involved in the evolution of the industry and are fairly compensated for their work. The use of synthetic voices raises ethical concerns and the need for actors to have the choice to refuse their use.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice actors asked to sign away rights | Replacement of human voice actors with AI-generated voices | Voice actors losing jobs, increased use of AI-generated voices | Lower costs for clients, increased efficiency |
| Rise of voice-generating AI | Threatening to push voice acting industry out of work | More widespread use of AI-generated voices in gaming, movies, audiobooks | Lower costs, ease of use in voice production |
| Concerns about the quality of AI-generated voices | Replacing human performances with hollow and false replicas | Improved AI technology that produces highly realistic voices | Desire for cost savings, efficiency in voice production |
| Synthetic voice services offering cloning and synthesis | Increased accessibility and affordability for voice synthesis | More people able to synthesize voices, potential for unauthorized use | Lower costs, ease of use in voice production |
| Contracts giving producers rights to synthesize actor’s voice | Loss of control and compensation for voice actors | Voice actors losing rights and compensation for synthetic voice use | Lower costs, ease of use in voice production |
| Labor implications for voice acting industry | Loss of jobs and damage to the industry | Loss of blue-collar voice acting jobs, industry-wide impact | Desire for cost savings, efficiency in voice production |
| Voice actors concerned about consent and objection rights | Circumvention of actors’ objections to certain content | AI technology bypasses actors’ ability to refuse objectionable content | Desire for cost savings, efficiency in voice production |
| Voice actors advised to flag problematic contract language | Union involvement and protection for voice actors | Union representation and negotiation for fair treatment of voice actors | Protection of voice actors’ rights and compensation |
| AI companies and voice actors partnering together | Expanding opportunities for voice actors, additional revenue streams | Voice actors licensing their voices for multiple projects, increased revenue | Desire for cost savings, efficiency in voice production |
| Union protection for performers’ rights | Mandatory bargaining for digital simulation rights | SAG-AFTRA ensuring fair treatment and compensation for union actors | Protection of voice actors’ rights and compensation |
| Voice actors’ opposition to synthetic voices | Desire to maintain authenticity and spontaneity in performances | Push for the elimination of synthetic voices or the option to refuse their use | Preservation of artistic integrity and quality in voice acting |