Brands Can Now Use Famous AI Voices in Ads
▼ Summary
– ElevenLabs has launched an Iconic Voice Marketplace where companies can license AI-replicated voices of famous figures for content and advertisements.
– The marketplace addresses ethical concerns by using a consent-based, performer-first approach to ensure permission, transparency, and fair compensation.
– It connects companies with voice rights owners, with ElevenLabs acting as a middleman to formalize licensing deals and synthesize the voices.
– Voices are sourced through cloning or synthetic replication from historical audio, including both living celebrities and historical figures like Mark Twain and Alan Turing.
– Michael Caine, a participating celebrity, stated that the platform amplifies voices and helps the next generation tell their stories rather than replacing them.
A new digital marketplace is making waves by offering brands the ability to license AI-generated voices of famous personalities for advertising and other content. ElevenLabs, an AI audio technology firm, has introduced the Iconic Voice Marketplace, positioning it as an ethical solution for using synthetic celebrity voices. The company emphasizes that its platform operates on a consent-based, performer-first model, directly addressing industry-wide calls for responsible AI voice usage.
Through this marketplace, businesses can connect with rights holders to legally license a specific voice. ElevenLabs acts as the intermediary, formalizing licensing agreements and handling the voice synthesis process. Access is restricted to a carefully selected group of verified iconic talent and intellectual property owners. This approach ensures that every voice generated comes with proper permission, full transparency, and equitable compensation for the individuals or estates involved.
The voices available range from those created using advanced cloning techniques to others synthetically reproduced from historical or archival recordings. The roster includes both contemporary celebrities and legendary figures from the past. Among the living participants, acclaimed actor Michael Caine has contributed his voice, expressing strong support for the initiative. He remarked that ElevenLabs provides powerful tools for creative expression, helping new storytellers share their narratives rather than replacing human talent.
Caine elaborated, “My entire career has been about sharing stories. What excites me is how ElevenLabs can empower future generations to tell their own.” The current selection features twenty-eight distinct voices, blending entertainment icons with historical pioneers. The complete lineup includes Michael Caine, Liza Minelli, Art Garfunkel, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Judy Garland, John Wayne, Bettie Page, Burt Reynolds, Maya Angelou, Richard Feynman, Laurence Olivier, Amelia Earhart, Babe Ruth, Mark Twain, Ty Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Al Joyner, Johnny Weissmuller, Jim Thorpe, Thomas Edison, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Mickey Rooney, Montgomery Clift, Alan Turing, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Rock Hudson.
(Source: The Verge)