ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & SAG-AFTRA STRIKE 2023 (-24?)
“I’m Ready for My Voice-Generated Close-Up!” Said No Actor Ever
AI Clones Stephen Fry’s Voice — But Did He Consent?
Hey there, pop culture fans! 🎬 Ever found yourself in a situation that made you shout, “Whoa, that escalated quickly!”? Sit tight because we’re jumping into an issue that has the calm Stephen Fry crying out, “Accio explanation!”
Stephen Fry vs. Stephen AI
Ah yes, Stephen Fry. That cozy British accent that guided us through the magical halls of Hogwarts in the “Harry Potter” audiobooks. His voice is iconic, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably wondered how cool it would be if you could have Fry narrate your life. Well, it turns out that artificial intelligence said, “Hold my Butterbeer!” and went ahead to clone Stephen Fry’s voice. The twist? They didn’t ask him. It’s like creating a clone army, but without the “Star Wars” fanfare.
🎙️ Stephen Fry’s iconic voice gets an AI twin
According to an interview with Fortune, Fry himself said that the AI-generated voice “could therefore have me read anything from a call to storm Parliament to hard porn, all without my knowledge and without my permission.” This is the stuff of Black Mirror episodes, people!
The Rise of the Machines?
Why are Stephen Fry and his agents “going ballistic”? Simply put, it’s about ownership and consent. Remember that time when a friend took an unflattering photo of you and posted it without asking? Now imagine that but with your voice — and on a much larger scale. You’d want to shout “Expelliarmus!” too.
AI: Friend or Foe?
We can’t just view AI as this nifty tool that auto-corrects our texts (and sometimes hilariously fails, I might add). It’s a powerful tech wizard that’s shaping everything from healthcare to Hollywood. Do you remember Bryan Cranston’s impassioned plea to Disney in June? Dude was basically like Walter White yelling, “I am the one who talks!”
“Alexa, How Do I Protect My Voice?”
Ah, the million-dollar question! Tom Hanks (you know, Woody from “Toy Story,” Forrest Gump, and all-around nice guy) pointed out on the Adam Buxton Podcast on the Adam Buxton Podcast that there are serious conversations happening about the “legal ramifications” of our faces and voices being considered intellectual property. We’re reaching a tipping point, and if this were a sitcom, this would be the cliffhanger season finale!
To Tech or Not to Tech, That’s the Question!
Look, it’s not all doom and gloom. AI can be a force for good — think Iron Man’s Jarvis, but less snarky. The crux of the issue is how we use this technology and who gets to say yea or nay. In the words of the ever-so-eloquent Fry: “Tech is not a noun, it is a verb, it is always moving.”
A Call to (Inter)Action!
There you have it, folks! Stephen Fry’s voice getting “DeepFaked” is an eye-opener, but it’s also a reminder that when it comes to AI, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” What’s your take on this? Would you be comfortable with AI mimicking your voice? Sound off in the comments below!
👋 Don’t let the machines define you; define the machines. Keep it real!
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Who is Jim the AI Whisperer?
Jim the AI Whisperer offers private training in how to use AI generators to create stunning visuals, as well as how to write original and compelling content. If you’re interested in discovering more, feel free to contact me.
I’m also available for journalism opportunities, podcasts, interviews, fine-tuning AI prompts, and creating custom prompt libraries for companies.