Chinese voice actor sues AI companies for using her voice without consent

A voiceover artist in China filed a lawsuit alleging an AI-generated voice resembling her own was used in audiobooks without her consent.

The voiceover artist, Yin, is suing 5 companies, including the provider of the AI system. The system in question uses generative artificial intelligence to recreate voices, allegedly with high precision.

This case is seen to venture into uncharted legal territory, where traditional copyright laws may not apply, thereby potentially setting a precedent for how individual likeness (e.g., “right to voice”) in the era of AI is perceived and protected..

Yin argues this represents a threat to her work and potential income, and adds to concerns raised by voice actors globally over the future of their profession.