Japanese voice actors create group against unauthorized use of voices in AI

PROTECT voice actors against the unauthorized use of their voices for AI!

This is the clamor of the newly formed “No More Mudan Seisei AI” group in Japan, which translates to “No More Unauthorized Generative AI”. They are also referred to by others as “NOMORE”.

The group recently posted a video to YouTube, featuring several voice actors clamoring for the same message: “No more mudan seisei AI.” 

One of the voice actors featured is none other than veteran voice actor Ryusei Nakao, known for voicing Freeza in “Dragon Ball Z”, Baikinman in “Soreike! Anpanman”, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi in “Bleach”. At the start of the video, he discusses how he was shocked to find out that his voice was being sold through AI without his knowledge or permission.

He, like many others, views voice acting as his entire life, which is why he asks for people to listen to the calls for his and his fellow actors in saying no to the unauthorized use of AI.

Some other voice actors found in the video are the following:

• Daisuke Namikawa: Haganezuka, “Demon Slayer”
• Jun Fukuyama: Koro-sensei, “Assassination Classroom”
• Koichi Yamadera: Ryoga, “Ranma 1/2”
• Romi Park: Hange, “Attack on Titan”
• Yuki Kaji: Eren, “Attack on Titan”

This follows after announcements that the talent management agency Aoni Production and the AI voice platform CoeFont would be partnering together, using vocal data from 10 voice actors to create AI-replicated voices for virtual assistants for people to use. 

Anime News Network adds that aside from this, it may also be used for medical devices, robots, voice-assisted navigation, and the like. It will also be available in multiple languages.

Some voice actors involved in this project are Masako Nozawa and Banjo Ginga. The companies involve have since reassured that the voices of these actors would not be used as voice training data for performances in animation, dubs, or the like.

Increasing use of AI

Society, at this point, is at a tricky stage of technology. As AI continues to grow more popular, people are looking for more ways to experiment with its uses and capabilities.  

While it is inevitable to grow curious over this new form of technology, the worry now is how it may affect — and how it has already affected — civilization in a negative light. 

Many voice actors have allowed the use of their voices for AI, but all they ask is that people get permission before doing so, and even a request as small as this is not being followed.

For example, Kaji, a part of the group hoping to stop the unauthorized use of AI, released an official voice synthesis software as a commemoration of his 20th anniversary as a voice actor. 

Through this project, users would be able to use Kaji’s voice to create stories and songs, all while preventing the illicit use of the voice actor’s voice, as reported by Anime News Network.

Voice actors have raised concerns not only with large organizations but with fans who take part in these AI tools, as well. NOMORE explained that even if it was done by a fan just to hear their voice, it still did not feel good given that they had no permission to do so.

“New technology will bring great benefits but, at the same time, we want to broaden our perspective to include each other’s feelings and the future shape of culture,” the NOMORE group said.

“Instead of exchanging hurtful words and actions, let’s have peaceful discussions with experts to reach a common understanding and create cultural rules.”

Aside from this, voice actors in America have spoken up about this issue, talking about how the use of generative AI may negatively affect their livelihoods. 

The Otaku USA Magazine additionally reports that the Japan Association of Translators recently spoke out against the idea of using AI to translate over 55, 000 manga into English in the next five years.

They explained that given its current state, AI translation lacks several factors to produce quality output; for example, will it be able to pick up on the character’s traits, background, or nuance? Or will it merely read like it was written by a machine? 

While it is understandable that some companies want to use AI to churn out many works in a small amount of time, several groups question if doing so will not diminish the quality of the work itself in the process. 

Fans in support

Since the release of the video of the NOMORE group, many anime fans have come to show their support in this battle. 

“There needs to be regulations put in place sooner rather than later,” wrote one user on Reddit about the topic.

“I have zero interest in watching AI-generated content. Hopefully, I’m not alone in this. Use AI for useful things, leave art to humans.” 

Another wished these voice actors good luck in spreading their message.

They wrote: “Art (in general) being gutted by AI needs to stop. We might not have great solutions now, but these are important steps that help acknowledge and retain the recognition creators deserve, that AI is stealing from. These industries have struggled to be fairly recognized and now having AI looking to essentially eat them is gross.”