Following a public dispute over AI-generated voices, Erica Lindbeck, the talented voice actor behind Persona 5’s Futaba Sakura, has made the decision to delete her Twitter account.
Erica Lindbeck has lent her voice to numerous anime series and video games, including notable titles such as Hi-Fi Rush and Tell Me Why. However, it is her portrayal of Futaba Sakura, also known as Oracle, in Persona 5 that has garnered her the most recognition. Unfortunately, a recent incident took a negative turn when a video surfaced online featuring an AI-generated version of Futaba “singing” a song called “Welcome To The Internet” by Bo Burnham. It is worth noting that the AI-generated Futaba likely utilized and manipulated recordings of Lindbeck’s dialogue from the Persona games.
Lindbeck publicly requested the removal of the video, leading to its deletion from YouTube. However, despite these efforts, multiple channels have since reuploaded the AI cover. Furthermore, numerous Twitter users criticized Lindbeck’s initial request, resulting in her decision to entirely remove her account from the platform.
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The debate surrounding AI-generated art is not a new controversy, but a recent argument has reignited the discussion as prominent voice actors and game developers have expressed their opinions. Some have shown support for Lindbeck while others have voiced their concerns about the use of AI-generated voices.
Writer and narrative designer Anna Webster emphasized that voice actors are valuable collaborators in a project and should not be treated as mere puppets to fulfill specific desires. She argued that “stealing someone’s voice” is both unethical and peculiar. Webster also touched upon the concept of character ownership, stating that once a character is recorded, they are no longer solely hers, as voice actors contribute their own expertise and creative vision to the portrayal.
Actor Josh Keaton, known for his role in Spectacular Spider-Man, joined the discussion, expressing his support for Erica Lindbeck and condemning any mistreatment towards her. In response to a comment, Keaton made it clear that there are no two sides when it comes to theft, specifically referring to the use of AI programs to (re)generate voices.
Numerous other fans and actors agreed with Keaton’s stance. Yuri Lowenthal, the actor behind Spider-Man in the game, retweeted his comment and added, “Seconded.” Another fan suggested that those who wish to hear Futaba sing should hire an actual voice actress.
The controversies surrounding AI voices and deepfakes have persisted for several months. Recently, Skyrim porn mods garnered attention for utilizing cloned performances of real actors in inappropriate contexts without their consent.
The emergence of AI-generated art raises significant concerns regarding ethical consent and legal ownership. Valve has acknowledged the legal uncertainty regarding data used to train AI models, as these AI tools often infringe upon existing copyrights.
Despite the moral and legal questions surrounding these issues, major players in the gaming industry are now exploring controversial AI technology.
Kaan Serin