Amazon studios accused of using AI voice cloning during actors’ strikes

Occurred: February 2024

Amazon MGM Studios was accused of trying to rush production using AI voice cloning during actors strikes to avoid a copyright deadline.

The original screenwriter of Road House, R. Lance Hill, sued Amazon MGM studios for copyright infringement and accuses them of using extreme measures including AI voice cloning of actors’ voices to rush production of the Road House remake. 

Amazon MGM studios denied using generative AI on the roadhouse production. 

Use of generative AI during the prolonged Hollywood strike is viewed as sensitive as  AI was one of the topics that became a major concern and brought the industry to a standstill. 

Ultimately, studios and streaming platforms reached an agreement to seek consent prior to using digital duplicates and to provide remuneration to the talent if used.

Databank


Operator: Amazon MGM Studios

Developer: 

Country: USA

Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts

Purpose: Generate audio

Technology: Text-to-speech; Deepfake - audio;  Neural network; Deep learning; Machine learning

Issue: Copyright, Workforce dislocation/replacement

Transparency: