Words From the Afterlife: The ‘Deepfake’ Voice Cloning Debate
Morgan Neville gave a synthetic voice to Anthony Bourdain’s lost words and a bone of contention was reborn.
Much has been written about ‘Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain’ since its first broadcast, and with good reason. By all accounts, it’s a deeply moving piece whose subject was (and still is) deeply adored. Yet, in light of the subsequent interview between The New Yorker and director Morgan Neville, a darker side revealed itself. Neville remarked that, for 3 lines, he had commissioned a software company to recreate Bourdain’s voice through an A.I.-generated version. It’s a very contentious issue and a somewhat ethical conundrum.
Browse through Reddit or Twitter and you’ll see both sides of this double-edged sword technology impassioned with their opinion. As I scrolled, my mind wandered towards these synthetic voices. Has it already become the norm? Should we be concerned? When is it okay? Moreover, when is it at its most useful? Let’s see, and talk. Firstly, I’m no tech expert futurologist. I’m your average internet-dweller who, like you, perhaps, will watch and listen with interest as voices that have fallen silent begin to speak up once again. Okay, we’re good to go.
