Actress Voice Explosion: Reforma Report
The Rising Tide of AI Voice Cloning and the Fight for Fair Compensation
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September 17, 2025 - The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning technology is creating a new battleground for intellectual property rights and fair labor practices in the entertainment industry. A recent case involving voice actor Dee Bradley Baker highlights the growing concerns surrounding the unauthorized use of performers’ voices and the lack of adequate compensation.
Baker, known for voicing characters in popular franchises like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender, discovered in February 2024 that his voice was being used to create AI-generated dialog without his consent or payment.The Verge reported that Sagemark, a company specializing in AI voice technology, had used BakerS voice – along with those of other actors – to develop a voice cloning service for clients.
the SAG-AFTRA Strike and the Fight for Protections
Baker’s experiance became a catalyst for action within the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio artists (SAG-AFTRA). The union, already engaged in a historic strike in 2023 over issues including streaming residuals and AI, reached a tentative agreement in November 2023 that included provisions aimed at protecting voice actors from unauthorized AI replication.
The agreement, ratified in December 2023, requires consent and fair compensation for the use of an actor’s digital voice replica. Specifically, performers must provide consent for their voice to be scanned and cloned, and they are entitled to a percentage of the revenue generated from the use of their digital voice. The deal also establishes a process for actors to control how their voice is used and to prevent its misuse.
The Ongoing Challenges
Despite the progress made with the SAG-AFTRA agreement, significant challenges remain. The technology is evolving rapidly, making it arduous to keep pace with potential abuses. Concerns persist about the potential for deepfakes
and the unauthorized creation of synthetic voices that could be used for malicious purposes.
Furthermore, the agreement primarily covers union members, leaving non-union voice actors vulnerable to exploitation.The legal landscape surrounding AI voice cloning is still developing, and courts will likely be called upon to address complex questions about copyright, intellectual property, and the rights of performers.
“This isn’t about stopping technology. It’s about ensuring that performers are fairly compensated for their work and that their voices are not used without their consent.”
The case of Dee Bradley Baker serves as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance and proactive measures to protect the rights of creative professionals in the age of AI. As AI voice cloning technology becomes more sophisticated and widespread, the industry must continue to adapt and prioritize ethical considerations alongside technological innovation.