Artificial intelligence startup Lovo has come under fire from voice actors Paul Lehrman and Linnea Sage. At the heart of the issue is the allegation that the company may have used Lehrman’s voice without his knowledge or consent for its AI-driven voice-over software capabilities. The pair have tabled a proposed class action against the firm.
The surprising discovery that led to the lawsuit arose when the actors heard what they recognized as Lehrman’s voice on a podcast discussion relating to the possible dangers of AI technology. This unexpected use of his vocal likeness incited concerns over the potential for misuse of actors’ voices.
While the wider implications of this discovery are yet to be seen, it shines a light on the complex and as yet largely unchartered territory of voice rights in the context of AI technology. AI’s ability to mimic human voices poses potential threats to privacy and can blur the lines of consent and ownership, making cases like this an important part of defining the ethical and legal boundaries of this emerging technology.
Read more about this development in the full report here.