Artificial intelligence and voice replication continue to come under fire lately, as prominent voice actors are making a stand against the unauthorized use of their vocal talents. The most recent to voice his concern (get it?) is Paul Eiding, the voice of the iconic Metal Gear character, Colonel Campbell, and a host of other notable characters from Transformers to Fallout.
In an ironic twist, Eiding, whose Metal Gear Solid character, Colonel Roy Campbell, was famously replaced by a rogue AI in the 2001 sequel “Sons of Liberty,” finds himself grappling with a similar issue off-screen. The actor vehemently condemned those using AI tools to recreate his distinctive voice without consent.
Eiding took to Twitter stating, “If you do not have written permission to use my voice, you DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION to use my voice, including AI use. Doing so is a violation of my legal rights and a real slap in the face.”
Please read.
If you do not have written permission to use my voice,
you DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION to use my voice,
including AI use. Doing so is a violation of my legal rights
and a real slap in the face.Thanks in advance, for not doing this. #MGS #Transformers #Ben10 #Fallout
— Paul Eiding (@4pauleiding) July 9, 2023
Eiding now joins fellow voice actor, Erica Lindbeck, who’s known for her roles as Futaba Sakura in Persona 5, Hrist in God of War Ragnarok, and Blaze the Cat in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, for being vocal about the unauthorized AI exploitation of her voice work. Lindbeck was compelled to delete her Twitter account following a bitter dispute with an AI creator who used her voice in an AI-generated cover of Bo Burnham’s “Welcome to the Internet.” While the creator deemed the video a “dumb but harmless Futaba AI cover,” Lindbeck and many others saw it as an infringement of her rights.
It’s not just the said actors who find this disturbing. David Hayter, who brought the iconic Solid Snake to life, also expressed his disdain for AI voice acting. In an interview with Eurogamer, Hayter contended that anyone illicitly using a voice artist’s work “should be locked up forever,” emphasizing that AI renditions will forever lack the subtle, emotional adjustments that skilled voice actors bring to their performances.
This controversy underscores a pressing concern within the rapidly evolving AI industry. As AI continues to augment various sectors, including the gaming industry, where EA’s Andrew Wilson hails it as a boon, it simultaneously raises new questions about artists’ rights, consent, and copyright law. While AI holds the promise to augment the gaming experience, allowing a player to create personalized content within gaming worlds, the unauthorized use of voice actors’ work presents a dark side to this progression.
While fans of the Metal Gear Solid series couldn’t help but appreciate the irony of Eiding’s predicament, mirroring the exact plotline of the very game he starred in, the seriousness of the issue is evident. Copyright infringement, in any form, is an issue that demands attention
For those wishing to use Eiding’s voice, official channels exist to provide a legitimate means for doing so, providing a win-win situation where the artist is compensated for their work, and fans get the content they desire.
As we move forward in this age of AI, we need to find a balance between innovation and respect for artistic rights and their recognition. As the controversy continues to unfold, the need for better legislation and guidelines to protect voice actors and other artists from unauthorized use of their work becomes clear.
It remains to be seen what the result of this growing outcry will be, but we’re expecting things to change sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on October 24, with Vol 2. potentially following suit by next year. Finally, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, the long-rumored remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, is officially in development.
