Dubbing companies are employing voice actors in Latin America to practice their artificial intelligence (AI) in preparation for eventually replacing human voice actors in media such as advertisements, animations, films, news broadcasts, and so on.

The potential for job losses is quite real here, according to Fortune. 

Voice Actors vs. AI

In a report by Rest of World earlier this week, an interview with Argentine voice actor Alejandro Graue showed how surprised he is to hear his own voice substituted by AI in a video for a YouTube channel dedicated to personal development only last month.

A technician at the channel, as Graue remembered, had told him that the AI voice was more cost-effective than hiring him. 

Graue sent out a scathing tweet not at AI technology per se but rather at the voice actors assisting in training such tools. 

"Thanks to all the actors and actresses who are lending their voices to create this shit that will eventually render all of us obsolete."

A voice actor who talked to Rest of World anonymously detailed the "marathon" recording sessions he had been a part of. "For hours, they make us record a load of words and loose letters in different styles and tones."

One person said they were requested to sign away any future claims to the company's proprietary "voice bank."

Graue admitted that he also had been offered jobs developing the algorithms in his native Buenos Aires beginning a few months ago. The promised talent fee for recording 10,000 words was 10,000 pesos, which is around $52 at the current currency rate.

The two organizations that provide Spanish AI dubbing services are reportedly the Deepdub of Tel Aviv, which specializes in dubbing films and television programs, and the Papercup of London, which concentrates on nonfiction material like BBC news.

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AI Implications in Many Industries

Not only do voice actors have to adapt to the challenges posed by AI, but so do many other professions.

American science fiction journal Clarkesworld ceased accepting new stories when editors discovered that AI had created many of the stories being submitted. 

There are teachers who forbid students from using ChatGPT in the interest of academic honesty. At the same time, some require the tool's usage because they see proficiency with AI as a necessary ability. 

Reportedly, JPMorgan recently informed staff that using ChatGPT was prohibited.

Although other voice performers engage with the AI dubbing corporations, putting their future job in jeopardy, the case of Latin American voice actors stands out possibly for how directly workers are being harmed.

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