Current Events > Apparently AI voices have gotten far enough to have Japanese voice actors...

(+) Yeah! (+)

...Speak English

The weebs are getting out of control

https://twitter.com/roaneatan/status/1631598010722578434?s=20

AI Takehito Koyasu speaking English is something I never thought I'd hear. He sounds great lol

Nani?!

It's still "flat" but then the voice is pretty good. In a few years, they probably can do much better emotion modulation it's crazy

This is good.

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to shit out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio.

Same with music. Imagine 20 years from now, buying a brand new Michael Jackson album with an AI generated voice that even the most hardcore MJ fan cant tell from the real thing.

Video games (especially RPGs) where every single line of text from the most obscure NPC is fully voiced. Entire cities having conversations that are AI generated, so they feel more natural and alive. Just being able to eavesdrop on 2 random NPCs and hearing hours upon hours of unique dialogue would be amazing.

Flauros posted...

This is good.

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to shit out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio.

Same with music. Imagine 20 years from now, buying a brand new Michael Jackson album with an AI generated voice that even the most hardcore MJ fan cant tell from the real thing.

Video games (especially RPGs) where every single line of text from the most obscure NPC is fully voiced. Entire cities having conversations that are AI generated, so they feel more natural and alive. Just being able to eavesdrop on 2 random NPCs and hearing hours upon hours of unique dialogue would be amazing.

This post is real weird I was like 100% certain it was sarcasm until I got to the last paragraph

Flauros posted...

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to shit out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio.

Same with music. Imagine 20 years from now, buying a brand new Michael Jackson album with an AI generated voice that even the most hardcore MJ fan cant tell from the real thing.

Congratulations: you've made it massively harder for new talent to get noticed because companies stick with simalucrums of the tried and true.

Antifar posted...

Congratulations: you've made it massively harder for new talent to get noticed because companies stick with simalucrums of the tried and true.

Fuck em

Flauros posted...

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to s*** out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio

I mean that's the intention actually. James Earl Jones already did it, and there are many VAs who do voice bank projects, which is recording a bunch of words using different inflexions so an AI model can be built, trained and used without the actor's involvement.

Overall VAs have been increasingly suggested to syntezise their voice with the "selling point' that will allow them to basically work even when they're not avaliable to for any reason.
But the thing is that's actually bs, because the use of AI is actually used to simplify the process and reduce costs in the first place and whatever they might earn on royalties is pitiful.

Woah that is amazing

Flauros posted...

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to shit out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio.

You're making the assumption that the human actor won't just be cut out entirely. Why would companies go through the trouble of licensing and paying royalties and everything when they could just grab some random guy's voice and turn some knobs to get the results they want?

AI should not be used to remove the human element from art

hockeybub89 posted...

AI should not be used to remove the human element from art

Why not?

Mr_hulk88 posted...

But the thing is that's actually bs, because the use of AI is actually used to simplify the process and reduce costs in the first place and whatever they might earn on royalties is pitiful.

Yeah I'm really not sure why anyone would do it unless they desperately need quick money

the moment you sell your voice rights for use by AI you basically cannot work ever again

1337toothbrush posted...

Why not?

Because then you have nothing human left?

kirbymuncher posted...

Yeah I'm really not sure why anyone would do it unless they desperately need quick money

That's actually exactly why they've done it, the ones I know at least. And yeah absolutely they regret it. Not just the loss of money in the long run but also having no control over what projects your voice is being used for.

You would need to get a good contract for something like that, and not one that sells your shit forever.

1 year contract with a flat payout would probably be the standard. But the really big names might be able to squeeze out multi year deals with royalties.

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Because then you have nothing human left?

Who's writing the lines? Hell, let's take it to the logical extreme: Let's say AI is doing every single aspect, even initiating projects. Does that mean you'd never want to create anything ever again? You're free to sit back and just consume a bunch of AI content, but how is that different from letting others do the creating now? Is it some nebulous human "soul" aspect? If that was so important, then it'd be something that only humans could provide and thus there is no threat from AI.

1337toothbrush posted...

Who's writing the lines? Hell, let's take it to the logical extreme: Let's say AI is doing every single aspect, even initiating projects. Does that mean you'd never want to create anything ever again? You're free to sit back and just consume a bunch of AI content, but how is that different from letting others do the creating now? Is it some nebulous human "soul" aspect? If that was so important, then it'd be something that only humans could provide and thus there is no threat from AI.

The problem is capitalism. Why pay anyone for their art when you can get AI to generate infinite approximations of art for free?

I swear to God some of you are making a beeline straight for tech dystopia and you won't let a single thing stop you. We'll have Cyberpunk without the constant rain and cool outfits, but with the hypercapitalism and alienation. Cool!

Flauros posted...

I cant wait for the day that VAs can sell their "likeness" wholesale to companies to shit out dubs by the thousands without the actor having to step foot in a studio.

James Earl Jones already did that.

1337toothbrush posted...

Who's writing the lines? Hell, let's take it to the logical extreme: Let's say AI is doing every single aspect, even initiating projects. Does that mean you'd never want to create anything ever again?

Um.. I don't know what you're talking about but back to acting being performed by AI, yes, that means actors aren't able to create their art.

You're free to sit back and just consume a bunch of AI content, but how is that different from letting others do the creating now?

Again, ..what?

hockeybub89 posted...

The problem is capitalism. Why pay anyone for their art when you can get AI to generate infinite approximations of art for free? Art is literally a human thing. This isn't robots helping us run factories more safely or efficiently. It's not helping us in any way. It's just taking away and that is what businesses want from automation, to make the human unnecessary.

The factory workers that were replaced also had families to take care of. Artists being replaced this time doesn't make this a special case. You were already watching media produced on an assembly line. While there was more of a degree of freedom in expression, it was ultimately never more than another product to sell you.

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Um.. I don't know what you're talking about but back to acting being performed by AI, yes, that means actors aren't able to create their art.

Again, ..what?

What part don't you understand? Do you just want to watch things made by humans? If you don't care about creating things yourself, why do you care about who creates it?

1337toothbrush posted...

What part don't you understand? Do you just want to watch things made by humans?

Um.. I wanna watch characters performed by humans, yes.

If you don't care about creating things yourself, why do you care about who creates it?

Lol this would be the part I don't understand. What do you mean I don't care about creating things myself?

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Um.. I wanna watch characters performed by humans, yes.

Why?

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Lol this would be the part I don't understand. What do you mean I don't care about creating things myself?

There are a couple of perspectives in this. One from the side of artists and another from the side of the viewers of artists' work. I wanted to see which perspective (if not both) you were talking from.

Will this be the end for anime dub actors? Now they can just have AI dub every anime in any language they want

1337toothbrush posted...

Why?

Well because the whole point of acting is seeing human emotions and thoughts.

There are a couple of perspectives in this. One from the side of artists and another from the side of the viewers of artists' work. I wanted to see which perspective (if not both) you were talking from.

Oh. From both, yeah. I grew up in dubbing basically, my mom is a VA and I'm an engineer at a dub studio. But even if that wasn't the case I'd probably think the same thing though

1337toothbrush posted...

The factory workers that were replaced also had families to take care of. Artists being replaced this time doesn't make this a special case. You were already watching media produced on an assembly line. While there was more of a degree of freedom in expression, it was ultimately never more than another product to sell you.

Sure, but to me saying humans don't need to be a part of art is like saying humans don't need to be a part of love or friendship. It may be somewhat optimistic, but full automation can help people and serve a need. I don't see what need it serves in the arts. Art without humans is like food without taste.

Zikten posted...

Will this be the end for anime dub actors? Now they can just have AI dub every anime in any language they want

Big projects aren't gonna outright replace actors right now. AI is still only in development to be able to scream and laugh realistically.
Actors have been replaced for low budget projects though. Mainly things that don't require much nuance and some video game voice acting

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Well because the whole point of acting is seeing human emotions and thoughts.

I thought the point was largely entertainment. That seems to be the case for most viewers, at least. Still, how do you know the emotions and thoughts behind things other than reading about/listening to the actor talk about it outside of the work itself? Other than that, it's just your own interpretations and assumptions. If you truly believe the human element makes a difference that cannot be done by an AI as well, then there should be no threat to human works, right? At the very least, there will be a niche just like there are with hand-made crafts versus mass-produced stuff.

Jesus christ the way some people see art as just something we mindlessly consume is pretty disappointing.

1337toothbrush posted...

I thought the point was largely entertainment. That seems to be the case for most viewers, at least. Still, how do you know the emotions and thoughts behind things other than reading about/listening to the actor talk about it outside of the work itself?

Lol because that's just literally how acting is approached. It's real because it's coming from real emotions, coming from real thoughts, which is how the "acting" occurs.
And all that is what you get as a viewer, it has nothing to do with reading the actor "talk about it outside of the work itself."

If you truly believe the human element makes a difference that cannot be done by an AI as well, then there should be no threat to human works, right?

It is a threat if most people start thinking like you basically, not understanding or caring about the value in a human performance.

OMAE WA MOU SHINDEIRU

nani?!?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5OE8B0n2GQ

1337toothbrush posted...

I thought the point was largely entertainment. That seems to be the case for most viewers, at least. Still, how do you know the emotions and thoughts behind things other than reading about/listening to the actor talk about it outside of the work itself? Other than that, it's just your own interpretations and assumptions. If you truly believe the human element makes a difference that cannot be done by an AI as well, then there should be no threat to human works, right? At the very least, there will be a niche just like there are with hand-made crafts versus mass-produced stuff.

How much money are you getting for licking the boots of corporations? There is a threat because greed doesn't give a fuck about whether AI would be better quality than humans, just that it would be labor that won't ask for compensation. The whole point of this is to fully eliminate humans.

When a big-box store comes into an area and eliminates the competition, would you say it's generally because they offer higher quality goods and customer service? Hell, those stores themselves sometimes go down in quality and service and make more money.

Smashingpmkns posted...

Jesus christ the way some people see art as just something we mindlessly consume is pretty disappointing.

Yeah the most popular stuff being rather simple and "mindless" doesn't mean we should just cut out the mind completely. It's self-defeating and will just make it even harder for artists. "Art made by humans" is not something that should become a niche culture for diehards. "Art made by humans" is art.

Nukazie posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5OE8B0n2GQ

That's amazing.

I want to see them act out Hamlet next.

Oh my god

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Lol because that's just literally how acting is approached. It's real because it's coming from real emotions, coming from real thoughts, which is how the "acting" occurs.
And all that is what you get as a viewer, it has nothing to do with reading the actor "talk about it outside of the work itself."

and yet if AI can convincingly replicate that, what's the difference?

Mr_hulk88 posted...

It is a threat if most people start thinking like you basically, not understanding or caring about the value in a human performance.

You've yet to explain the value in a human performance. You say the emotions and thoughts are real, but what makes them so real? Because they come from humans? If you are still moved by an AI performance and didn't know it came from an AI, how is that any less real?

hockeybub89 posted...

How much money are you getting for licking the boots of corporations? There is a threat because greed doesn't give a fuck about whether AI would be better quality than humans, just that it would be labor that won't ask for compensation. The whole point of this is to fully eliminate humans.

When a big-box store comes into an area and eliminates the competition, would you say it's generally because they offer higher quality goods and customer service? Hell, those stores themselves sometimes go down in quality and service and make more money.

I'm not saying I like this, I'm just stating the reality. Corporations are always looking to cut costs, but no one here seems to care when blue color workers lose their jobs. In fact, I distinctly remember people making fun of them with a mocking "dey turk er jerbs" while corporations abused immigrant labor to undercut them. We need to rethink our economic system and how we'll move on from capitalism, because all the problems caused by AI automation stem from that rather than the AI itself.

sounds on par with the voice acting found in Shenmue games... lol

Damn, that is impressive. It's still flat but the voices themselves are pretty good

Have AI create everything and instate UBI then society on their free time can now be free thinkers, enjoy life, or progress and solve the problems plaguing our society today

This just makes me even more convinced that Haachama is really a rogue AI.

See also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brx3TikoO_s

1337toothbrush posted...

and yet if AI can convincingly replicate that, what's the difference?

For starters, that it can't. Like I said in another post AI can't actually modulate.

As in, laughing, screaming, panting, change in rythm and overall emotional nuance.

But even if/when it becomes sophisticated enough to replicate human nuance convincingly it will still always be an algorithm. It will never have the spontaneity of an actual human cause there's nothing behind, it's an immitation.

Edit: Here's an example of a company that actually works for video games, and it's developing emotions.
This is how AI sounds screaming.

https://youtu.be/vDv-pMJ4MRM

You've yet to explain the value in a human performance. You say the emotions and thoughts are real, but what makes them so real? Because they come from humans?

Lmao dude. I dunno, what is the value in humans, period?

That's essentially what you're asking.

It's really easy to use. Maybe too easy. I recorded two messages for my voicemail using AI, one with a British accent (female) and one with a French accent (female). I alternate the two.

Took about 10 minutes total - most of which was me getting the pacing to my preference.

Sexypwnstar posted...

Have AI create everything and instate UBI then society on their free time can now be free thinkers, enjoy life, or progress and solve the problems plaguing our society today

Who needs free thinkers or to solve problems, let the ai take care of that too. Then we can also program the ais to enjoy free time and we won't need humans at all!

In our rush to make life easier for us let's not remove any reason we have to exist. Humans need goals and stimulation or we will suffer.

MyMainAccount posted...

Humans need goals and stimulation or we will suffer.

AI porn, tho.

hockeybub89 posted...

The problem is capitalism. Why pay anyone for their art when you can get AI to generate infinite approximations of art for free? Art is literally a human thing. This isn't robots helping us run factories more safely or efficiently. It's not helping us in any way. It's just taking away and that is what businesses want from automation, to make the human unnecessary.

You sound like a coal miner.

Porn is not a purpose in life. At least for most people.

Mr_hulk88 posted...

For starters, that it can't. Like I said in another post AI can't actually modulate.

As in, laughing, screaming, panting, change in rythm and overall emotional nuance.

But even if/when it becomes sophisticated enough to replicate human nuance convincingly it will still always be an algorithm. It will never have the spontaneity of an actual human cause there's nothing behind, it's an immitation.

Edit: Here's an example of a company that actually works for video games, and it's developing emotions.
This is how AI sounds screaming.

https://youtu.be/vDv-pMJ4MRM

For starters, people also thought AI wouldn't get this far. It's a pretty safe assumption that at some point it can modulate. It can be argued that humans are "just an algorithm" too, hence the old argument over the concept of free will. We are more complex creatures, but complexity is made up of a lot of simple mechanisms.

Mr_hulk88 posted...

Lmao dude. I dunno, what is the value in humans, period?

That's essentially what you're asking.

That is the question. If you tie your value to whether you can out-compete automation in your chosen field while working for megacorp under capitalism, you'll find that your value is actually quite low. Under the conditions we're in, "soul" (or whatever you want to call it) amounts to jackshit. Trying to make the argument that humans are super duper special and therefore AI cannot take over is simply denying our reality.