Deepdub Debuts Voice Artist Royalty Program for Generative AI Voice Clones
Dubbing and translating technology developer Deepdub has begun a new compensation scheme for voice actors whose performances are employed in generative AI-powered projects. The new Voice Artist Royalty Program will pay performers who submit audio samples that can be turned into synthetic voices available on the company’s voice marketplace. When a studio or content producer selects an artist’s unique vocal profile to dub a production, that voice performer will receive a royalty payment.
Voice Clone Work
There is a growing concern in Hollywood and the voice-acting community over the impacts of voice cloning and deepfake technology on creative jobs. One of the major elements of the recent Hollywood strikes was how generative AI and deepfakes are changing traditional entertainment roles. Voice actors have also voiced worries for years that their recordings could be used without proper consent or payment to train voice cloning algorithms. Deepdub hopes to allay the issue of a performer not getting paid despite their voice appearing in a video or audio production.
The continual revenue model of the royalties ensures actors can earn from the ongoing use of their vocal performances in entertainment projects employing synthetic voices and gives producers an ethical way to use those synthetic voices. Any professional voice actor who passes a vetting process can sign up. Their unique vocal profiles then become available for Deepdub’s entertainment partners to license for use in AI-powered dubbing of film, TV, and other media.
“At Deepdub, we want to ensure voice talent are rightfully rewarded for their artistry and skill,” Deepdub CEO Ofir Krakowski said. “Our Voice Artist Royalty Program enables performers to tap into the expanding world of AI voice tech in an ethical, mutually beneficial way.”
This is a new step for Deepdub in its generative AI projects. The company unveiled the Deepdub Go platform this summer to provide enterprises with generative AI-fueled dubbing and translation services. Users simply upload a video they want to dub and then select the languages and emotional style they want to hear. Deepdub’s AI handles transcription, translation, voice cloning, and mixing to output a final localized version. The new royalty program would then compensate the people behind the voices in those corporate, academic, or commercial videos.
Deepdub claims the program is the first of its kind to continually compensate voice talent for AI dubbing work. The company has collaborated on projects for Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other platforms. Last year, it became the first generative AI dubbing solution to get content security certification from the Motion Picture Association.
“AI holds tremendous promise for the entertainment industry and is fundamentally changing how content is created and distributed,” Deepdub advisory board chairman and former president of Fox Television Studios Emiliano Calemzuk said. “However, it’s critical that artists aren’t left behind in this transformation and that people in all positions within the industry benefit from AI. Deepdub’s Voice Artist Royalty Program is a watershed moment for the ethical adoption of AI in entertainment. This initiative paves a sustainable path for artists to continue to work alongside AI, and to be fairly compensated for their unique skills and abilities.”
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