Actors clap back AI using their voices for NSFW Skyrim mods
While it's all well and good joking about how AI is replacing us and imagining some Terminator-inspired apocalypse where machines have taken over, there are some real-world implications facing us right now. More than losing your jobs to AI, voice actors are now being used against their wishes in NSFW deepfakes.
The AI pandemic is well and truly upon us. Blizzard Entertainment has faced backlash, Call of Duty has toyed with its potential, and the MCU has even used it for the credits of Secret Invasion. We recently covered how voice actors are concerned about how it could affect the gaming world, and now, we're seeing it in action.
Voice actors are being used for NSFW deepfakes
A viral tweet highlights the situation, listing a whole host of voice actors who are currently having their vocals used as a deepfake in NSFW Skyrim mods. The Skyrim community is always horny on main, and while we don't normally bat an eyelid, the idea of someone being part of it without consent is concerning.
This prompted a response from The National Association of Voice Actors, tagging Bethesda Studios and Zenimax Online while tweeting: "The damage to voice actors and game companies by AI and synthetic voices is real and tangible. Voice actors don't have the legal ability to fight this, but you can help."
As reported by GamesRadar, NexusMods' official stance is "AI-generated mod content is not against our rules," and with the rise of the ElvenLabs tool in 2022, voice actors being modded into saucy scenarios without their permission is becoming a worrying trend.
Voice actors show a united front against unfair AI
Some of those affected have spoken. Skyrim voice actor Elisa Gabrielli (Maven Black-Briar) said, "This is really disturbing. I'll look into it," adding that she'll be speaking to her agent. Skyrim and South Park actor April Stewart thanked the OP for bringing it to her attention, saying she requested it to be taken down.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom's Abbey Veffer said, "If you find my voice in one of these mods, please let me know so I can request that it be taken down. I do not, and never will, consent to my voice being used for AI synthesis, cloning, deepfakes, etc. This is NOT okay."
Online's Ben Diskin added, "I do not consent to my biometric data being used for these purposes," while Kyle McCarley said, "Please tell me if you find my voice print somewhere like this. I don't want people using AI to put words in my mouth."
Elsewhere, Deathloop and Fallout 76's Linsay Rousseau raged, "Voice Actors don't consent to this. If you're using these mods, you're stealing & abusing our work." Someone else pointed out how it's wrong to resurrect the legendary David Warner, especially for a NSFW mod.
