Renowned broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough has expressed deep dismay over the unauthorized cloning of his voice by artificial intelligence creators. The 97-year-old, celebrated for his distinctive narration style, described the misuse as “profoundly disturbing” and a breach of his identity.
The controversy began when the BBC demonstrated AI’s ability to replicate Attenborough’s voice. During a news segment, the broadcaster aired a clip from Attenborough’s latest series, Asia. In the excerpt, he said, “If you think you’ve seen the best the natural world has to offer, think again. There is nowhere else on Earth with so many untold stories. Welcome then, to Asia.”
Following this, an AI-generated version of the same clip was played, sounding nearly identical to Attenborough’s delivery. The cloned voice has reportedly been used on YouTube channels such as The Intellectualist, lending an air of authenticity to discussions about topics like the Ukraine-Russia war and Donald Trump.
In response, Attenborough voiced his concerns directly to the BBC, said, “Having spent a lifetime trying to speak what I believe to be the truth, I am profoundly disturbed to find these days my identity is being stolen by others and greatly object to them using it to say whatever they wish.”
Adding to the controversy, the creator behind the AI clone released a statement—ironically using the synthetic Attenborough voice—clarifying their actions:
“Let’s set the record straight. Unless Mr. Attenborough has been moonlighting for us in secret, and under an assumed name with work authorization in the United States, he is not on our payroll. I am not David Attenborough. We are both male British voices for sure, but I am not David Attenborough for anyone out there who might be confused.”
The unauthorized use of AI-cloned voices has sparked heated debates over copyright and privacy violations. Clones of Attenborough’s voice have surfaced frequently online, applied to projects he has no association with. While creators of such clones argue their work is harmless, critics highlight the ethical and legal implications.
In the U.S., such concerns have spurred legislative action. The proposed No Fakes Act, introduced last year, seeks to hold creators of AI clones accountable. The issue also featured prominently in the recent writers’ and actors’ labor strikes.
Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson faced a similar situation when her voice was cloned for an OpenAI project named “Sky.” Johansson stated that despite declining an offer to use her voice, the project proceeded until legal action prompted its removal.
The controversy comes amidst the release of Attenborough’s newest series, Asia, a seven-part documentary exploring the continent’s natural wonders. Produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit in collaboration with BBC America, France Télévisions, and ZDF, the series premiered on 3 November on BBC One and iPlayer.
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