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Speechless voice artists see unregulated AI gagging their livelihoods

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1 year ago

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With technology executives and government officials voicing concerns about the unregulated use of artificial intelligence (AI) posing a threat to human jobs, singers and voice artists have also joined the fray demanding regulation as they fear they will be made redundant by the technology.

Mario Filio, a Mexican artist who has done voiceovers for Hollywood star Will Smith, the Obi-Wan Kenobi character in Star Wars and the party-loving lemur King Julien in the animated movie “Madagascar” said: “We’re fighting a very big monster.”

With the campaign slogan “Don’t steal our voices,” more than 20 voiceover artists, associations and unions from Europe, the US and Latin America have formed a coalition named United Voice Artists, representing faceless voiceover artists and narrators of commercials, movies, audiobooks and video games — fearing that they will be replaced by machines, or even cloned by AI without consent.

The group said: “The undiscriminating and unregulated use of [AI] is a risk that could lead to the extinction of an artistic heritage of creativity and wonder, an asset that machines cannot generate.”

The group maintained that its members include the US National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) and Latin America’s Organization of United Voices.

“Our voices are our livelihood,” NAVA vice president Carin Gilfry said in a statement last month.

“And if we don’t have control over how those voices are used, we can’t make a living,” she added.

These artists were already fighting with text-to-speech technology that turns written words into synthetic voices.

Now AI has renewed fears as machine learning technology can compare a voice sample with millions of existing ones, identifying patterns to generate a similar one.

“It’s fed by voices that we’ve been providing for years,” said Dessiree Hernandez, president of the Mexican Association of Commercial Announcers.

“We’re talking about the right to use your voice without your consent,” she added.

Replaced by AI?

Different platforms allow human-sounding text-to-speech services for a part of what they pay to other voiceover artists.

According to one platform, it does not intend to replace human voiceovers but to offer a quicker and cheaper alternative.

Though the artists are still being hired, voice actors are wary that companies are using their voices to build up their archives.

The artists are seeking tools to track their voices in the face of sophisticated piracy and calling for regulation to prevent recordings of their voices from being used to develop AI without their permission. They also are asking for setting up support quotas for human voiceovers, said Colombian voice artist Daniel Soler de la Prada.

“In the future, audiences could hear a famous actor’s voice in several languages but with the intonation of a dubbing artist,” Filio said.

While that could generate employment and benefits for the public, voice artists “need to charge what’s fair,” he added.

Mexican voice artist Maclovia Gonzalez said that “she would only sign a contract with an AI company if it provided enough information about how the content would be used.”

“I want to be part of this revolution, but not at any price,” she said.

Art Dubbing, a company that has received several requests from clients to use synthetic voices, faces a dilemma: “Adapt or disappear,” said its Mexican founder, Anuar Lopez de la Pena.

Filio for his part said that he stopped recording for many clients for fear of hurting his colleagues’ livelihoods.

But he is skeptical that AI will replace voice actors completely because the machines have “no soul,” he added.

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Unlawful VPNs: Terrorists Utilize Unregistered VPNs to Disseminate Propaganda

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19 hours ago

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Terrorists utilize illicit VPNs to disseminate propaganda and misinformation while concealing their identities.

Several accounts have been uncovered and are under investigation.

The cessation of non-registered VPNs is crucial for the nation’s economy.

The PTA is blocking illegal URLs and websites disseminating objectionable material upon verification.

Forensic investigations of websites have yielded startling results.

Disseminating erroneous information is more facile using unregistered VPNs.

Terrorists were exploiting these unverified VPNs.

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Air University Holds A Revolutionary Event For Students Focusing On Cybersecurity

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19 hours ago

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Air Marshal (R) Asad Lodhi has praised the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, an initiative by the Air University and Higher Education Commission that aims to train future cyber security experts and pioneers. At the opening ceremony of the two-day Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which took place at Air University in Islamabad, he was the chief guest.
Showdown challenges, the Ideas Cup, and the Pakistan Crypt Challenge are all part of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which lasts for two days.

Air Marshal (R) Abdul Moeed Khan, VC of Air University, made a speech praising the cyber security abilities of Pakistani youth, saying that they are among the best in the world and will help the country face cyber threats. A haven for cyber security excellence, he said, Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge 2024. Additionally, he praised the Air University for its innovative and outstanding work in this area.
At the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum, executive director of the Higher Education Commission, also spoke to the crowd. He discussed how HEC has created a welcoming atmosphere and helped facilitate projects such as the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge.
As part of the inauguration event, an MoU was also signed. Guests and participants were given souvenirs as the opening ceremony came to a close.

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How to turn on low-light mode on WhatsApp for better video calls

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19 hours ago

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The Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has launched a new feature designed to facilitate video calls in low-light environments.

Frequent users of WhatsApp for video calls with loved ones may appreciate the recently launched low-light mode.

The function enhances video call clarity in low-light conditions, facilitating more effective connections regardless of location.

Are you inclined to experiment with it? Here is a comprehensive guide on employing low-light mode to enhance video quality during WhatsApp calls.

A sequential instructional manual

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your device.

Step 2: Commence a video call with any family member or acquaintance.

Step 3: Observe the bulb icon positioned at the top-right corner of your screen.

Step 4: Select the bulb icon to activate it. To deactivate it, you click on the icon once more.

Your friends and family will now perceive you more distinctly due to improved visibility and less graininess, regardless of the surrounding lighting circumstances. This feature is presently accessible solely on Android and iOS devices, and not on Windows.

Furthermore, explore: Methods to categorise WhatsApp conversations using personalised lists: A sequential instructional manual.

Key considerations to retain

As this is a provisional configuration, it must be activated with each call you make.

In addition to the low-light mode, WhatsApp provides several additional intriguing features for video calls, such as background removal, filters, and enhancement options.

Background removal: The background remover function allows you to alter your backdrop during video conferences.

Filters: This functionality enables you to apply a filter from a selection during video calls with friends and family, enhancing the vibrancy of your interactions.

WhatsApp offers a fundamental touch-up feature to improve your appearance during video talks.

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