The recent controversy over ChatGPT's developer's use of a voice similar to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson is another example of the complexities of generative artificial intelligence and the ethical debate surrounding this technology.
OpenAI says Skye's voice, one of several voices available in its popular chatbot, is not an imitation of the actor but that of another professional using her natural speaking voice. Stated.
Nevertheless, the similarities with Johansson are striking, and the Marvel star questioned why his voice sounded “eerily similar” to hers after turning down an offer to lend his voice to System. caused.
The company suspended the use of Sky earlier this week.
The high-profile case brought the topic of AI voices into the spotlight, with several video game voice actors saying they were particularly vulnerable to rogue AI.
One case involved a user-made mod for the video game Cyberpunk 2077 that transformed the main character into Adam Jensen, complete with voice actor.
The problem is that Adam Jensen is the main character of another video game series whose voice actor neither contributed his talents to the fan project nor consented to its creation.
“This is a performance that's just my voice,” says Elias Toufekis, who grew up in Montreal and now lives in Los Angeles. “I didn't think anyone could do this.”
He says the creator of the mod has agreed to remove it.
Toufexis — also known for his voice work in video games like Starfield, Assassin's Creed and the Splinter Cell series, as well as roles in live-action shows like The Expanse and Star Trek: Discovery — says artificial intelligence is cool and has a lot of potential.
But while AI can be used to support art, Toufexis says it shouldn't be used to create art.
Ubisoft, publisher of the “Assassin's Creed” and “Splinter Cell” games, seems to agree.
Yves Jacquier is executive director of La Forge, a division within Ubisoft. Based in Montreal, La Forge aims to create innovative prototypes based on the latest academic research to improve the game creation process, according to the company's website. Artificial intelligence falls into that mission.
“AI is here to help creators,” Jacquier said. “Creators need to have an edge and a vision, and AI is one tool to help them realize that vision.”
Jacquier said he hasn't heard of Ubisoft's AI applications taking over jobs that should be done by humans.
“When we develop these solutions, we do it together with the end users,” he said, citing an in-house tool called Ghostwriter as an example.
According to a 2023 announcement, Ghostwriter won't replace video game writers, but will help them with one of the most laborious tasks: writing dialogue, known as “bark.” The tool will generate samples that a human can select and polish.
These are essentially filler lines spoken by non-player characters and can be something simple like “Down!” or “Grenade!”
Toufexis said voicing video game voices is a job that's disappearing due to AI, meaning it could become even harder for aspiring voice actors to land the job.
Another major concern is fair treatment.
For voice actor Jennifer Hale, it comes down to three things: “Control over what happens with our voice; consenting to the use of our voice in the first place; and compensation for the use of our voice,” says Hale, who was born in Happy, Valley-Goose Bay, N.B., and now lives on Vancouver Island.
“This is my voice,” says Hale, best known for his role as Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series.
“This is an expression of my soul. This is an expression of my decades of life experiences. No one is allowed to use it without my permission.”
Hale acknowledged that AI is not an inherently harmful tool. She says she is not against AI, but against its misuse.
But the case of ChatGPT's Johansson soundalike highlights the need for protection for actors, especially voice actors.
Lindsay Rousseau, a Los Angeles-based actor with a diverse background in video games, film and performance capture, said an actor's contract is their main protection.
She points to efforts by the US-based National Voice Actors Association, which has published riders or contract addendums on AI that professionals can use when negotiating jobs.
Rousseau says the use of AI voices could become more common at smaller video game studios, which may not necessarily know how to work with or pay actors. .
But for big-budget projects, companies still want big names, she said.
“They still want Jen Hales,” she says.
There's a reason people love movie stars: they want to connect with the characters through the actors, Toufekis said.
“There's not going to be an AI version of Meryl Streep. It's never going to happen.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2024.
Curtis Ng, The Canadian Press
