Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A professional voiceover artist, Gayanne Potter, was shocked to hear a robotic version of her Scottish accent on ScotRail trains. ScotRail had introduced the voice called “Iona” in May, provided by Swedish tech firm ReadSpeaker, to replace human announcements on some services. Transport Scotland announced that ScotRail plans to introduce an alternative voice “as soon as practicable.”
Potter expressed her dismay, stating that her voice was being used as an AI clone without her consent. She emphasized the challenges faced by individuals in the creative industry and how competing with a robotic version of oneself adds insult to injury. ScotRail has not disclosed whether the replacement voice will be a human recording or another AI-trained voice.
Passengers also criticized the AI voice, describing it as “weird” and “unnatural” on social media. Initially, ScotRail had no intentions of replacing Iona, suggesting that passengers would eventually get used to it. However, the pressure mounted, and Transport Scotland confirmed that ScotRail was working to replace Iona following public concerns and ministerial correspondence. The spokesperson emphasized Scotland’s commitment to leading AI development ethically, inclusively, and with trustworthiness.
Gayanne Potter’s ongoing dispute with ReadSpeaker highlights the concerns surrounding AI technology and voice recordings. ReadSpeaker uses AI learning to replicate accents or languages from recordings, with Iona portrayed as a red-haired woman in a Scottish landscape. Potter provided recordings in 2021 under the premise of accessibility and e-learning software, rather than commercial use. The relationship between Potter and ReadSpeaker remains complex, with the latter stating they have addressed her concerns previously. Equity, a trade union representing industry workers, flagged the increasing use of AI technology as a significant concern. ScotRail did not disclose a timeline for removing the voice but confirmed ongoing discussions with ReadSpeaker on the matter
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.