Google Accused of Stealing a Voice: Its Response
▼ Summary
– Former NPR host David Greene is suing Google, alleging it copied his voice for its NotebookLM AI tool without his permission.
– The lawsuit claims Google violated publicity rights and unfair competition laws by replicating Greene’s distinctive voice and persona.
– Google denies the allegations, stating the NotebookLM voice is based on a paid professional actor it hired.
– This case is part of broader legal conflicts over AI using people’s likenesses and copyrighted material for training.
– The article notes a similar 2024 incident where OpenAI removed a voice accused of mimicking Scarlett Johansson.
A prominent radio host has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming the company unlawfully used his distinctive voice for an artificial intelligence feature. David Greene, the former co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition and current host of the Left, Right, & Center podcast, alleges that Google’s NotebookLM tool replicates his vocal characteristics without permission. According to legal documents, Greene discovered the feature through a former colleague and was profoundly disturbed by the similarity.
The complaint, filed in a California court, asserts that Google deliberately sought to copy Greene’s iconic voice, built over decades in radio, to create synthetic audio products. The lawsuit accuses Google of violating California’s right of publicity laws and engaging in unfair competition, arguing the company profited unjustly from the unauthorized use of his vocal likeness. Greene’s legal team contends the AI-generated voice mimics his unique delivery, cadence, and professional persona.
Google has issued a firm denial of these claims. A company spokesperson stated that the allegations lack merit, clarifying that the male voice in question belongs to a professional actor hired by Google. The spokesperson emphasized that NotebookLM’s audio overviews have no connection to David Greene and are based entirely on this contracted performer’s recordings.
This case enters a heated legal landscape where the use of personal likeness and copyrighted material to train AI systems faces intense scrutiny. The contentious issue of AI voice replication made headlines recently when OpenAI removed a voice called “Sky” following comparisons to actress Scarlett Johansson, who had declined to license her voice. Numerous lawsuits are challenging how major technology companies utilize copyrighted books, articles, and creative works to develop their artificial intelligence models.
Earlier this year, a coalition of high-profile artists and creators initiated a public campaign to combat what they describe as AI-generated “slop” and the unauthorized appropriation of creative property. These legal battles are shaping new boundaries for intellectual property and personal rights in the digital age, setting precedents for how AI companies can operate. The outcome of Greene’s lawsuit against Google could significantly influence future regulations and ethical standards within the rapidly advancing field of generative artificial intelligence.
(Source: Mashable)
