In a shocking revelation at the CogX Festival, renowned actor and author Stephen Fry disclosed that his iconic voice, known to millions of 'Harry Potter' audiobook fans, had been replicated without his consent using AI software.
Fry's revelation has sparked concerns about the ethical implications of AI in the entertainment industry, leaving both him and his agents appalled, The Independent reported.
Stephen Fry's Alarming AI Voice Replication Revelation Raises Ethical Concerns
Fry, a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), expressed his dismay during the ongoing strike, which has been underway for three months. Addressing the audience, he highlighted the pressing issue of AI and its impact on the profession.
"One of the burning issues is AI," Fry stated before playing a clip of what seemed to be his voice narrating a historical documentary. However, the unsettling truth was that it was not Fry himself but an AI replicating his voice.
The actor was taken aback by the revelation, saying, "I said not one word of that - it was a machine. Yes, it shocked me."
The AI utilized Fry's readings of the entire 'Harry Potter' series as source material to create an AI version of his voice. It then generated new narration, seamlessly mimicking Fry's distinctive tone and delivery.
Fry explained further, stating, "What you heard was not the result of a mashup. This is from a flexible artificial voice, where the words are modulated to fit the meaning of each sentence. It could therefore have me read anything from a call to storm Parliament to hard porn, all without my knowledge and my permission. And this, what you just heard, was done without my knowledge."
Upon learning of this unsettling development, Fry promptly informed his agents on both sides of the Atlantic, who were equally shocked and unaware that such AI replication was possible.
Fry, known for his contribution as the audiobook narrator for the 'Harry Potter' series in the United Kingdom, expressed his concerns about the broader implications of AI in the industry. He warned, "You ain't seen nothing yet. This is audio. It won't be long until full deepfake videos are just as convincing," according to Variety.
AI's Impact on Entertainment
AI's role in the entertainment industry has become a pivotal issue during the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA. Prominent actor Bryan Cranston previously delivered a passionate message to Disney CEO Bob Iger, emphasizing that actors would not allow studios to replace them with AI replication.
Cranston's message resonated with many actors who share concerns about the potential erosion of their job opportunities due to AI advancements.
"We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity! We are union through and through, all the way to the end!" Cranston declared.
While AI technology advances, the ethical and professional ramifications of replicating an artist's voice or image without their consent raise complex questions.
Stephen Fry's revelation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges the entertainment industry faces in navigating this uncharted territory.
Fry, whose most recent appearance was in Prime Video's 'Red, White & Royal Blue,' currently available for streaming, hopes that his disclosure will contribute to a broader discussion about AI's ethical use in the entertainment world, as per to Business Insider via MSN.
