Aoni Production, a renowned voice acting agency established in 1969, has joined forces with CoeFont, an AI voice platform service provider, to expand AI-generated voices globally. This partnership, announced on October 7, 2024. Famous Anime Voice Actors Join AI Project for Global Languages, aims to create multilingual AI voices for international markets.
Key Points of the Collaboration
- Participating Voice Actors: Ten voice actors from Aoni Production are involved in this AI voice project. Notable participants include Masako Nozawa, famous for voicing Son Goku in “Dragon Ball,” and Banjou Ginga, known for roles such as Isaac Netero in “Hunter x Hunter”.
- Technology Application: CoeFont’s AI technology will be used to convert the Japanese voice actors’ voices into English and Chinese, creating high-quality multilingual AI voices.
- Target Markets: The AI voices will primarily be used for voice assistants (like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant) and robots or products with voice navigation capabilities (such as Pepper and medical devices).
- Scope Limitation: It’s crucial to note that this service will not be used for voice acting in anime or dubbing foreign films. The partnership explicitly excludes the “performance” aspect of voice acting.
Ethical Considerations and Rights Protection
The collaboration between Aoni Production Production and CoeFont emphasizes the importance of protecting voice actors’ rights while exploring new possibilities for their voices. Both companies have stated that:
- They will not infringe on the voice acting domain.
- The partnership aims to utilize the appeal of voices outside the realm of acting performances.
- They are committed to expanding voice possibilities while safeguarding voice rights.
This approach addresses concerns about the misuse of AI technology in replicating voices without permission, which has been a growing issue in the industry.
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
This partnership marks a significant step in the voice acting industry’s approach to AI technology. By establishing clear boundaries and ethical guidelines, it sets a precedent for future collaborations between traditional voice acting agencies and AI companies. The initiative aims to contribute to the spread of voice recognition technology in global markets and enhance social welfare by providing familiar voices to a wider audience. As the first voice actor-specific production company in Japan to enter such a partnership, Aoni Production move is likely to draw considerable attention and potentially influence industry trends
Source: KAI-YOU.net
