Ned Luke's never been one to mince his words and he unequivocally gave WAME a piece of his mind for using his voice.
Ned Luke, the voice actor best known for his role as Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto V, recently expressed a strongly-worded explicit opposition to an AI company's use of his voice without permission.
The controversy emerged when WAME, a tech firm, developed an AI chatbot that mimicked Luke's voice as the character Michael De Santa from GTA 5. Luke's reaction was swift and unequivocal, as he criticized the company for creating a "lame computer estimation" of his voice and called the move "f**king bullshit" in a post on social media.
The incident spotlights the growing concerns around AI-generated content and the ethical implications of using AI and similar technology to replicate human voices without consent. The debate has become more even more significant as AI capabilities in replicating voices and other creative aspects improve. Luke's response was particularly forceful, putting an emphasis on the disrespect involved in using his voice without approval and warning fans against engaging with such AI-generated content.
https://twitter.com/ned_luke/status/1746559971695763562
WAME's decision to create the chatbot without Luke's permission drew attention not only from the actor but also from the wider gaming and acting community. Roger Clark, known for his role as Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, and other actors expressed sympathy and shared concerns over the use of AI to imitate voices, highlighting the potential impact on the industry and individual actors.
Following Luke's public condemnation, WAME removed the chatbot and related promotional material from the internet. The company also issued a statement acknowledging the controversy and the complex interplay between AI technology advancement and ethical, legal considerations. WAME committed to respecting the rights of voice actors and creators while advancing ethical AI practices, recognizing the incident as a pivotal moment for harmonizing AI technology with legal standards.
The reaction to WAME's AI chatbot and the subsequent removal of the product underline the sensitive nature of the use of AI technology in creating content.
As AI continues to evolve, it raises important questions about intellectual property rights, consent, and the preservation of artistic integrity in the digital age.
Take-Two Interactive's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, is aware of the potential implications of AI use in the video game industry. Back in November, Zelnick specifically singled out the importance of using AI technology, likening it to just another tool that Rockstar Games, among others, can use. Already, Rockstar has used AI to moderate voice chats in GTA Online. It's only a matter of time until the video game industry finds a way to use it without stepping on anyone's toes.
