As a seasoned moviegoer who has seen countless documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough, I find this AI-generated voice impersonation to be akin to a remake of a classic film with a lesser actor. While it might fool the untrained eye, or ear in this case, the authenticity and soul that Sir David brings to his work cannot be replicated by artificial means.


Sir David Attenborough does not approve of AI being used to replicate his voice.

On Sunday, during a BBC News segment, an artificial imitation of the renowned British broadcaster’s voice discussing his latest series “Asia” was heard alongside the original recording. The AI-generated Attenborough was barely distinguishable from the genuine one. Researchers at the BBC discovered this AI version on a website, mentioning that several such websites claimed to replicate his voice.

98-year-old responds to BBC News with this statement: “Over the course of my life, I’ve always strived to express what I truly believe. It deeply troubles me that now, my identity is being misused by others, and I strongly object to them twisting it to say whatever they please.

AI-generated Attenborough subsequently composed a response, which BBC News broadcasted. “Let’s make things clear. If Mr. Attenborough has been working discreetly for us under an alias and with the necessary U.S. work permits, he is not employed by us,” it stated. “I am not David Attenborough. We may both be male, British voices without a doubt. But, I must clarify, I am not David Attenborough, to clear up any confusion for those who might be unsure.

After hearing BBC News play a segment featuring the cloned voice discussing Donald Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Dr. Jennifer Williams, an AI audio researcher at the University of Southampton, shared her perspective on the topic.

She expressed her concern, saying, ‘I feel quite troubled by this situation.’ It’s significant because Sir David Attenborough is widely respected as a reliable source and truth-teller. However, when someone misrepresents his words, attributing them to him on topics like war and politics, which he may not have expressed or even endorse, it raises serious questions.

Watch the full BBC News segment below.

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2024-11-18 15:16