Real Seiyu vs. unauthorized generated AI, what can voice actor fans do?
If you are a fan of voice actors or interested in the profession of voice acting, you will relate to the “NOMORE unauthorized generation AI” video.
But it is difficult to get all of the world’s approximately 8 billion people to have that feeling.
Since the creation of the generative AI, there will unfortunately be people who will misuse it, just as when tools such as the telephone and the Internet became available to a large number of people.
Therefore, as the voice actors themselves say in the video, they are not denying the technology of generative AI itself.
They are sending out a message that it is unacceptable with respect to unauthorized generation AI.
I would like to write about how to deal with AI, whether there is anything that voice actors’ fans can do to cooperate with the voice actors, whether there is a way to promote this matter, and whether there are actions that only voice actors’ fans can take to contribute to the “NOMORE unauthorized generation AI” that the voice actors are appealing for. I would like to share my own view on this matter.
As Mr. Toshihiko Seki says in the video, “We cannot sue for copyright infringement for the use of voice alone, which is not related to copyrighted works.
”We have to find a way to coexist.” I have come up with three ideas.
1.We ourselves create the work of the voice actors.
The Ultimate Way to Support Voice Actors is to “create a representative work of the voice actor you are interested in.
It is wonderful to be able to create jobs even if they are not representative works. It supports the lives of our guesses!
It can be done not only by manga artists, writers, and other creators, but also by PR people of various companies.
For example, you can plan a web commercial using an original character and ask the voice actor to voice the character.
Another great offering works is for students to plan and assign a Seiyu event at a school festival.
You may want to look at “creation” as a guessing activity, not just as a consumer.
Some of the voice actors are worried about losing their jobs. So as a countermeasure to that, you might as well create new works.
2.Increase the number of voice-over fans by conveying what is resonating in their “hearts.
I think a major point that Kanai Mika mentioned in her video is whether or not people feel that unauthorized generated AI does not have “heart.
To avoid increasing the number of “heartless people” who think that “just as long as it looks like them,” “as long as it gets buzz, it doesn’t matter what it is,” or “as long as we can make money from unauthorized AI,” I think one way to promote voice actors that resonate with people’s “hearts” is to propagate their wonderful voices.
3.Take full advantage of the AI you can use.
AI technology is fun. Text generation AI, image generation AI, music generation AI, video generation AI, and so on, you will find that they can greatly expand your range of ideas when you use them.
In fact, the eye-catcher’s image for this article was generated using Adobe Firefly’s AI generation.
In a discussion between voice actor Jun Fukuyama and Toshisada Mariyama of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mr. Fukuyama also says that he hopes AI will become a “good staff officer”.
I believe that AI is neither an enemy nor to be eliminated; it is the fruit of human wisdom.
If we want to use AI synthesized voice to transmit our message, we should use what we are allowed to use.
At that time, it is important to use AI voice that is allowed to be used officially produced by VOCALOID™ or the person himself/herself.
If you don’t already have one for your guessed voice actor, you may be able to promote your guess to companies that produce content using generated AI.
However, there is business there, so it may not always happen.
Please be careful not to cause trouble by showing too much love.
Soyogi Soyogi AI” produced by Yuki Kaji
Developed and operated by a Singaporean company. Not only Japanese companies but also foreign companies can offer work to voice actors!
Official Site : Soyogi Fractal Official [Yuki Kaji Voice AI Project
Not limited to the three mentioned above, we are sure that there are hundreds or thousands of ideas lying dormant for what you can do, knowing that voice actors’ voices, performances, and way of life are unique.
We encourage you to explore and consider them!
Generative AI approved by voice actors
As mentioned above, voice actors do not deny the technology of generative AI itself,
Here are some examples of voice actors using and participating in the technology.
A voice actress who lost her voice due to an illness explains her condition using her own AI synthesized voice
Do you know a voice actor named Kyosei Tsukui?
He was the first voice actor to portray the character “Nyanchu” for about 30 years.
Currently, Wataru Hatano, his junior, is the second voice actor.
Mr. Hatano also refers to Mr. Tsukui as his senior and mentor. It is such a connected relationship.
Mr. Tsukui was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), an incurable disease, and his condition worsened, eventually leading to a tracheotomy and loss of voice.
He then uses his own AI synthesized voice, which he prepared earlier, to transmit his medical condition on YouTube.
AI Synthesized Voice in Multiple Languages
A joint project has been announced to convert the attractive voice data of voice actors belonging to Aoni Productions, one of the largest voice acting agencies, into multiple languages, including English and Chinese, using CoeFont’s AI voice technology. Samples of English and Chinese versions of voice actress Masako Nozawa’s multilingual AI voice were also presented. We recently published an article on the project, so please take a look at it as well.
Voice Actor Revived by AI with Bereaved Family’s Permission
(Quote) Dead Voice Actor Revived with AI “Cyberpunk 2077” With the Bereaved Family’s Permission | Forbes JAPAN Official Website (Forbes Japan)
This is also the case with Polish voice actors.
Cyberpunk 2077,” a popular game by CD Projekt Red (CDPR).
The voice of Miłogost Reczek, the Polish voice actor who played Viktor the Ripperdoc, a friend of the main character V (Vee), was used in DLC (downloadable content) using AI synthesized voice with the permission of his bereaved family.
This was made possible by his sons, who gave their full support for the use of AI. However, this is a controversial issue because it is not authorized by the deceased person.
How can we develop the technology of generative AI together with Seiyu culture?
SeiyuJournal was started with the hope of conveying to the world the value and excellence of Japanese voice actors.
If information about voice actors is conveyed to people with “heart,” new jobs for voice actors may be created.
On the other hand, if the information is conveyed to those who do not have a heart, they will only recognize the value of voice actors, and this may be abused by the use of AI.
I am sure that those who read this article are people with a good heart who would not misuse it, but any tool or information can be used for good or evil, depending on how it is used by the person who obtained it.
Nothing will change if you are only shocked and disturbed by the “NOMORE Unauthorized Generation AI” video.
I believe that voice-over fans have enough power to seek out what they can do for the voice-over artists and take action.
Not only the voice actors concerned, but the combined actions of voice actor fans, little by little, may change the future of the voice actor industry.
