ElevenLabs has introduced an online marketplace designed for companies to license AI-replicated voices of notable figures for their content and advertisements. This initiative, referred to as the Iconic Voice Marketplace, claims to address ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI-generated celebrity voices by following a “consent-based, performer-first approach.”
The marketplace facilitates connections between companies and rights holders of specific voices, with ElevenLabs acting as an intermediary to formalize licensing agreements and synthesize the voices. The platform is exclusively available to a curated selection of “verified, iconic talent and IP owners.” This approach aims to ensure that the voices of prominent individuals are generated under conditions of permission, transparency, and fair compensation.
Some of the AI voices available have been created using cloning technology, while others are synthetically replicated based on historical or archival audio recordings. The marketplace features a variety of figures, including historical personalities like Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Alan Turing, whose actual voices may not be widely recognized. Among contemporary figures, Michael Caine has contributed his voice to ElevenLabs, highlighting the project’s goal of providing tools for creators to amplify their narratives.
Caine remarked that the initiative is not intended to replace existing voices but to enhance them, thereby opening opportunities for new storytellers. He emphasized the potential for ElevenLabs to assist the next generation in sharing their stories.
Currently, there are 28 voices available for licensing in the marketplace, which raises questions about the broader implications of using AI technology to replicate human voices for commercial purposes.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/818470/elevenlabs-iconic-voice-marketplace-ai-audio