Friend or Faux: The Ethics of AI Voice Training and Why It Matters

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

That’s what they say, right? Surely, it depends on the context of the situation. Vocalists have been sounding like each other throughout history—whether it was intentional or not. Josh Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet sounds like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, and not-so-cleverly denies being inspired by the group. Action Bronson’s voice sounds like Ghostface Killah. Justin Warfield of She Wants Revenge sounds like Paul Banks of Interpol. In certain periods, Liam Gallagher of Oasis has drawn comparisons to John Lennon. The list goes on. Music-centric content creator JT Jasinski (@jt_jasinski on Instagram) even has a content series where he “ruins songs just because they sound like someone else”. These phenomena are not limited to just singers and music.

Talents who sound just like the artist they cover on The Voice | Top 10

Many comedians and voice actors have remarkable impersonation skills when it comes to mimicking another person’s voice. In music and performance, imitating or channeling someone is often part of the creative process. Influence comes naturally and is unavoidable.

What if a voice you are so familiar with is indistinguishable from technology? You’re listening to your favorite artist sing a new song and it is their voice—the pitch, the tone, the cadence, all of their unique inflections, everything is there, but it’s not them. What if it was a synthetic voice created by AI? Look at the Drake and The Weeknd AI song fiasco that took the internet by storm back in 2023. The track titled “Heart on My Sleeve” appeared on streaming platforms featuring the two artists, much to fans’ surprise. The even bigger surprise was that it was totally AI-generated, prompting backlash against the use of AI in music.

AI voice cloning wasn’t a new concept at that point. Ethical and legal considerations regarding the use of AI voice clones without permission raised questions about the ownership of an artist’s voice and the potential consequences of its unauthorized use. The release of the AI-generated song featuring Drake and The Weeknd merely exposed just how far technology had come in mimicking the voices of popular artists. These questions have likely been bubbling under the surface for years. It underscores the importance of security measures to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive voice models.

What is AI Voice Cloning?

AI voice cloning uses powerful and rapidly evolving AI technology and machine learning algorithms to create a synthetic digital replica of a human voice. Essentially, a dataset of human-recorded singing and speaking voices is uploaded, then analyzed by the technology to create the AI voice clone. This technology can almost perfectly capture the unique characteristics of the human’s voice including pitch, tone, and timbre.

Artist Voice Clones: How to with AI - USE RESPONSIBLY!

AI voice clones can be used in many ways by creators of all kinds. Anything from integrating them into music production efforts to professional-quality voiceovers and expedited vocal dubbing and enhancement in film and television, AI voice clones have become a popular way to elevate the creative process. But with great power comes great responsibility—thanks, Uncle Ben—because the potential for misuse is ever-present, and it is essential for creators to understand the ethical implications of lending their voices and applying the use of AI voice technology in their creative process.

In this article, we will explore the critical ethical concerns surrounding AI voice cloning and discuss how responsible creators can navigate these challenges to use this groundbreaking technology responsibly.

Ethical Concerns in AI Voice Cloning

One of the most fundamental ethical issues in AI voice cloning is consent. The voice is one of the most truly unique attributes of an individual. Singers and voice actors rely heavily on their own voice to help them excel in their professions and art. When a person’s voice is cloned without permission or informed consent, it has the potential to be used and exploited in harmful ways. This may become an ethical or legal dilemma.

Consent and Voice Data Privacy

Informed consent is crucial when using someone’s AI voice model. Creators must ensure that the owner of those voices that are being used understands just how they will be utilized. This could mean informing the AI voice owners on where their voice will appear, for how long, and the context of the use. Obtaining this consent and permission involves making clear agreements about the uses. At the same time, voice owners should be made aware of potential risks and applications of their AI voice models upon creation.

High-quality voice recordings are essential for effective voice cloning. Additionally, robust privacy and data security measures must be in place to protect sensitive voice recordings and user interactions.

Equally important in this matter is data privacy. AI voice models analyze voice data which is classified as biometric data. Biometric data is highly sensitive and unique to everyone. It almost seems counterintuitive to clone your own voice to make it available for others to use, so ensuring that safeguards are put in place is imperative. If not carefully protected, it can be misused for identity theft, impersonation, and other malicious activities.

Misinformation and Deepfakes 

In 2020, the rise of deepfake technology in visual media stunned the masses. Much of the use was unsurprisingly, to terrifyingly accurately superimpose someone else’s face onto inappropriate forms of content, thus sparking larger conversations about how this technology is used for negative purposes. Although visual deepfakes may be tough to spot for many, they are much simpler to identify than AI voice audio recordings.

Bill Hader impersonates Arnold Schwarzenegger [DeepFake]

Deep learning models analyze and replicate specific vocal patterns, enabling the creation of personalized synthetic voices that closely mimic a person's unique tone and pitch.

AI voice cloning makes these situations much more convincing. The process of creating and utilizing these tools is so easy that it could be to its detriment. A synthetic voice can be used to impersonate politicians, celebrities, any other individual in positions of influence, or even a loved one. Used in this way may be convincing enough to spread false information, manipulate political opinions, and tarnish someone’s reputation.

For instance, actor Jonathan Majors has encountered some legal issues in his personal life regarding domestic violence. Recently, audio recordings have surfaced containing confessions about the wrongdoings. The thing about this is that many people on social media have come to the actor’s defense claiming the recordings were the product of AI voice cloning. Though this may or may not be true, the fact that it is even a consideration should indicate that misuse of this technology is very possible.

In recent years, AI voice technology has been at the forefront of controversies surrounding scam phone calls. Typically, the scam involves an individual receiving a phone call from a friend or family member requesting money or specific information, often in a compromised or desperate situation. It is important to take caution about these phone calls. A way to combat this is to establish a code word with the people closest to you, just on the off chance something like this may happen.

It is essential that creators, developers, and governments to establish safeguards to prevent such abuses. For instance, responsible AI usage should include watermarking or creating unique identifiers for synthetic voices to differentiate them from real ones.

Intellectual Property (IP)

As AI voice cloning technology advances, questions about intellectual property (IP) are becoming more pressing. Is it clear who owns the rights to what is technically a synthetic voice? Sure, the voice was provided by a real person. But upon making said voice available for use by others, what happens? Is it the individual, or the company who developed the technology for the model?

This ambiguity makes it difficult for creators to protect their voices and manage their IP rights, especially if they have not given consent for their voices to be used. For instance, if a voice actor or a singer provides their voice for AI training, they may not have control over how it is used.

Legal safeguards must be put in place in this matter. Due to the rapid evolution of AI voice technology, the law is struggling to keep up and there is much debate about how to regulate it. Laws need to protect individuals’ rights over their voices and ensure they’re compensated for any commercial use. Only time will tell what laws will be put into place and how they will be structured. Until then, companies and creators must act as ethically as possible, including providing fair compensations to the individuals behind the voice and create fair contracts upon acquiring their vocal datasets, as well as ensure the voice models are ethically sourced in the first place.

Impact on the Voice Acting Industry

As AI technology improves, companies may opt to use synthetic voices instead of hiring human talent. This shift could lead to job displacement for professional voice actors, whose work relies on their unique vocal skills. While AI-generated voices can offer cost savings and faster production times, they also are widely perceived to devalue the artistry and expertise that voice actors bring to their craft.

AI voice systems can deliver responses that emulate human voices, enhancing customer experience by allowing for quick and accurate handling of inquiries.

Voice artists sue tech company for 'stealing their voices' | BBC News

At the same time, AI voice cloning could create new opportunities for voice actors. They could collaborate with AI developers, lend their voices to training models, or offer their expertise in voice synthesis, ensuring their creativity and talent remain integral to the process. However, a balance must be met to ensure that AI doesn’t replace human voice actors but complements their work. AI should not be used as anything more than a tool to enhance the existing human creative process.

Promoting Responsible AI

1. Transparency

Transparency is critical when using AI voice cloning. Musicians, content creators, businesses, and voice actors must be upfront about when they are using synthetic voices in their work. Whether it's in music, advertisements, audiobooks, podcasts, or other forms of media, audiences have the right to know if they are hearing a real person or a synthetic reproduction.

Think of how the Parental Advisory label on album covers, or the simple letter “E” for explicit on streaming platforms came into prominence. Indicating something contained the use of AI technology would be a step in the right direction. Social media platforms have already begun including these labels on AI content, although much of it does slip through the cracks.  

By being transparent, creators not only build trust with their audience but also foster a sense of accountability. If an AI-generated voice is used in a misleading or malicious way, creators should be held responsible for how the technology is applied.

2. Ethical Guidelines

The need for ethical guidelines in the AI industry should be urgent. These guidelines should help define the boundaries for using AI voice cloning, ensuring that it is employed in responsible and respectful ways.

Ethical guidelines could cover several areas, including obtaining informed consent, securing voice data, preventing misuse, such as in the case of deepfakes or spreading sensitive and political (dis)information, and ensuring fair compensation for individuals whose voices are used. By setting industry-wide standards, creators and companies can safeguard against unethical uses and encourage responsible innovation in the field of AI voice technology.

Some great organizations are already pushing for ethical and responsible guidelines and standards to be set in the AI industry. A few organizations to pay attention to are Sound Ethics, Responsible AI Institue, and International Association for Safe and Ethical AI (IASEAI).

3. Education and Awareness

One of the most effective ways to ensure responsible use of AI is through education. Creators of all kinds, businesses, developers, and the general public need to be informed about the ethical implications of this technology and how to navigate any potential pitfalls that may accompany it. By offering training and resources, we can equip people with the knowledge they need to use AI responsibly.

Educational programs should cover topics such as the importance of informed consent, data privacy, and the potential for misuse. When people are aware of the risks and benefits, they can make informed decisions and avoid unintended harm. Raising awareness around these issues will empower creators to take ethical considerations seriously and help build a responsible AI-driven future.

Kits AI’s Ethical Stance

Kits.AI has always recognized the importance of balancing such a powerful and innovative tool with ethical responsibility. We are committed to ensuring that each individual who provides their voice to the vast Kits AI Voice Library has the right to control and protect their voices, as well as be compensated fairly for every download. We also believe in sourcing every voice model dataset responsibly and directly from the artist, preventing and prohibiting any unauthorized scraping of another artist's work.

Kits.AI has always been grounded in a place to emphasize how AI voice technology can be used for good. Kits.AI has also included detailed outlines of restrictions of use in contracts and terms of service, as well as the rights granted to each user. The belief that AI voice technology should be a tool to enhance the creative process and not replace it has always been at the forefront. Kits fosters a community aspect that encourages collaborative opportunities for creators to work directly with AI developers and other creators, ensuring that the human aspect remains at the heart of it all. 

Please visit the Kits.AI ethics webpage to read further about how ethical AI is at the core of our platform's mission.

Conclusion: Innovate With Integrity

AI voice cloning is a powerful technology that has revolutionized how we create and interact with music and content, but with that comes much responsibility. From obtaining informed consent and protecting intellectual property to preventing the spread of disinformation and addressing its impact on musicians and voice actors, AI voice cloning raises several ethical concerns that need to be carefully managed.

Creators, developers, and companies must embrace transparency, adhere to ethical guidelines, and prioritize education and awareness to ensure this technology is used responsibly. By doing so, we can protect individual rights, foster creative industries, and mitigate the risks associated with AI voice cloning.

It is strongly encouraged that anyone approaching the use of AI in any fashion should do so with mindfulness and responsibility. There will still be people who misuse AI technology, much like any other form of technology. That will never change. But AI must position itself in a place grounded in ethical principles to be better accepted by the public. With so many factors working against it, there is plenty of work left to be done.