The ever-vocal (and oft-swatted) actor, Ned Luke, recently confronted WAME, a tech company, for using his voice in an AI chatbot without permission.
This incident has ignited a significant discussion about the technical and legal complications of AI-generated content, particularly in replicating human voices.
Luke's reaction was pointed and unambiguous. He openly and strongly expressed his disapproval of WAME's actions on social media, condemning the company for creating what he referred to as a "lame computer estimation" of his voice and labeling the situation as "f**king bullshit". This strong response underscores the growing concerns among actors and creatives about the unauthorized use of their voices and likenesses in AI-generated projects.
Ned Luke is best known for voicing Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto 5. His distinctive voice is one of the reasons why many consider Michael one of the best protagonists in GTA history. Thus, while not particularly in the right, you can't blame WAME for adding his voice to its AI chatbot.
The controversy began when WAME released a chatbot mimicking Luke's voice as his character from GTA V. In response to the chatbot, Luke criticized the company on social media, advising fans to avoid such AI-generated content and highlighting the disrespect involved in using his voice without approval.