Two New York City voice-over artists share their unsettling experience of filing a lawsuit against an AI company for allegedly cloning their voices without consent. They discuss the implications of this technology on identity theft and creative control, raising ethical questions about the use of AI in creative professions. The conversation also touches on legal challenges related to voice cloning, highlighting how this issue threatens artists' livelihoods in an increasingly tech-driven world.
The lawsuit filed by voiceover artists against an AI company underscores the urgent need for clear intellectual property regulations regarding voice cloning.
The innovative milk pasteurization device developed by Canadian graduates aims to improve food safety and livelihoods for small-scale dairy farmers in East Africa.
Deep dives
Voice Cloning Lawsuit
Two voiceover actors have filed a lawsuit against a tech company for allegedly cloning their voices using artificial intelligence without permission or compensation. The couple realized their voices had been replicated when they encountered an AI-generated podcast interview that used their own voices. Investigating further, they discovered that the company had offered paid work under the pretext of simple radio ads, without informing them of any broader usage rights. Their case highlights concerns about intellectual property and the necessity for clearer regulations regarding the use of artists' voices in the age of AI.
Affordable Pasteurization Technology in East Africa
A team of Canadian graduates has developed a low-cost device for pasteurizing milk, addressing food safety issues faced by small-scale farmers in East Africa. Named Saffi, which means ‘pure’ in Swahili, this portable device allows farmers to pasteurize milk efficiently and improve its safety for consumption. The team learned that a significant percentage of milkborne diseases spread in the region, making the need for accessible pasteurization technology essential. Farmers reportedly react positively to the device, seeing the opportunity to earn a premium on safe, pasteurized milk, which can improve their livelihoods.
Designing Repairable Technology
An engineering expert has proposed a framework for creating products that are easier to repair, emphasizing the importance of durability and user-friendliness in design. This approach, known as the R.O.B.U.S.T. framework, encourages manufacturers to make their products rugged, open for disassembly, balanced in features, useful in daily life, satisfying to use, and transformative in promoting sustainable practices. The expert shared insights from his experiences in South Africa, where necessity drives the repair of tech, demonstrating that with the right tools and parts, people are eager to fix rather than discard broken items. This shift toward repairable design could significantly reduce e-waste and empower consumers.
We hear from two voice over artists, based in New York City, who have filed a lawsuit against an AI company they claim stole their voices.
Also on Tech Life this week:
A device invented by Canadian university students is shaking up the milk business for small-scale dairy farmers in Africa. And an engineer tells us his robust plan to make tech easier to fix.
Presenter: Chris Vallance
Producer: Tom Quinn
(Photo: An actress records her voice into a microphone. Credit: Andrey Popov/Getty Images)
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