David Attenborough “profoundly disturbed” by use of AI to clone his iconic voice

David Attenborough “profoundly disturbed” by use of AI to clone his iconic voice

As a fervent admirer of both Sir David Attenborough and the late Sir Michael Parkinson, I find myself at the intersection of fascination and apprehension as these two giants grapple with the rapidly evolving world of AI.


In a stance against imitators, renowned nature documentary narrator Sir David Attenborough has publicly expressed his disapproval of others using his distinctive voice in their own creations.

The beloved broadcaster and biologist has said that he is “profoundly disturbed” by the use of his voice being cloned by AI.

According to BBC News, Attenborough’s unique voice has been employed across numerous YouTube clips. They showcased a video comparing his actual voice to an AI-created one, making it challenging to tell them apart.

Regarding AI’s mimicry of his voice, Attenborough expressed concern to the BBC, stating: “Having dedicated much of my life to expressing what I consider truth, I am deeply troubled to discover that my identity is being misused in recent times, and strongly oppose others using it to say whatever they please.

Sir David Attenborough is presently providing commentary for the BBC’s newest nature show, titled “Asia,” which delves into the diverse landscapes, fascinating wildlife, and breathtaking natural phenomena found across Earth’s most extensive continent.

Discussions about artificial intelligence persistently resonate within the realm of movies and television, stirring debates as a result of recent announcements about the podcast series by the late Sir Michael Parkinson, questioning the validity of its employment.

In the upcoming podcast, you’ll encounter an artificially intelligent system, skillfully educated to mimic a conversational style similar to a person with Parkinson’s disease. It has the ability to generate a close replication of that individual’s voice.

During an explanation on BBC Radio 4, producer Jamie Anderson stated that these are entirely fresh interviews, and the artificial intelligence developed by us aims to be as similar to the late Sir Michael as feasibly possible.

“He is autonomous, so we let him start the interview and after that it is up to AI Sir Michael.”

Mike, Parkinson’s son, emphasized that the team working on the project is fully cognizant of the legal and moral complexities, and they unequivocally intend to avoid any misrepresentation or falsification of their findings.

He hopes that the project will introduce his father’s work to younger people, saying: “It’s a wonderful way of extending the life of someone who was an outlier and a unique talent of his generation.”

Read More

2024-11-18 17:35