Photo/Illutration Voice actor and Japan Actors Union Vice Chairman Michihiro Ikemizu, second from right holding a microphone, addresses protecting the rights of entertainers at the education ministry in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Nov. 13. (Tomoki Tajima)

Three organizations, including the Japan Actors Union, called on the public to not use artificial intelligence for foreign film dubs and animation at a Nov. 13 news conference at the education ministry. 

“We have a history of doing our jobs through careful discussions with translators and directors,” said one of the voice actors who participated in the news conference. “It is not so simple for AI to easily create voiceovers.”  

Protecting voices of singers and voice actors that are being used online without their consent has become an issue as generative AI technology continues to advance.

Some have trained AI models to specifically emulate certain celebrities and uploaded videos on public platforms with the AI voice singing. 

It is likely that some of these videos are earning profits.

The voices themselves are not under copyright, but concerns about infringement of publicity rights have been raised and the central government has been discussing how to regulate the use of generative AI in these instances.

The Japan Actors Union said it is gradually gaining understanding from production companies not to use generative AIs for voiceovers in foreign films and anime.

It also aims to make this a common practice with distribution companies. 

At the news conference, the organizations said people who want to use AI voices or train models should obtain permission from voice actors or singers and should clearly indicate their videos were created with AI. 

“We are not seeking to regulate blindly,” said Keiko Konno, a voice actor and a senior official of the Japan Actors Union. “AI needs to continue to be a complementary human tool so that we can properly co-exist with it.”

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