- Konami is in hot water for using an actress’ voice unethically for AI commentary at the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship.
- The company took down the videos on YouTube after backlash and claimed it used an open-source synthesizer.
- The actress has taken legal action and shut down the original software, Anelli.
The use of AI has been a contentious topic for a while now, with many major companies, such as Microsoft, pivoting towards an environment that prioritizes AI. Gaming giants like Square Enix and Sony have also not been far behind, dipping their toes into the same pool.
But there have been heated debates about the ethical use of the technology, especially regarding likenesses and voice actors. Now, Konami has landed itself in hot water for an unethical infringement of an actor’s voice.
Why it matters: Konami faced the backlash it deserved for the unethical use of AI, serving as a reminder to corporations about the consequences of such actions.
Konami had to take down two YouTube videos of its Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship duels due to backlash surrounding the AI-generated commentary available in multiple languages. The criticism stemmed from fans saying that the Japanese voice model was based on the voice of actress Hibiku Yamamura.
In response, the actress took it to X stating that her voice is being used for AI-narration without her consent. Yamamura further stated that her agency is now involved in the proceedings, meaning a lawsuit could be on its way.
My voice is reading text I’ve never read before. Somewhere out there, without my knowledge. And countless people who don’t know this are listening to that narration.
In response, Konami released a statement on 8th September, saying that it used the Anneli AI model, an open-source speech synthesis system. Furthermore, it assured fans that Yu-Gi-Oh! doesn’t have these AI programs and that it respects all creatives in the industry.
Interestingly, however, the creator of Anneli revealed that the AI model was trained on the voice of an adult character played by none other than Hibiku Yamamura, without her permission. Anneli’s website has since been shut down as the company delves deeper into the issue, and from the looks of it, Konami could face severe consequences.
Do you think Konami should be held accountable for this unethical use of an actor’s voice? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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