{
  "id": 20116443,
  "title": "AI stole my voice — and I want it back",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/ai-stole-my-voice-and-i-want-it-back",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-15T05:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20261115/ai-stole-my-voice-and-i-want-it-back"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The emergence of artificial intelligence has arrived unexpectedly, much like a mushroom after a rainstorm. These AI systems make grand promises of creating a better world, yet they threaten to steal our jobs and even our identities. As a television journalist and narrator with a 60-year career, I have provided more than 1,000 narrations, spanning news, true crime programs, nature documentaries, and special events.\n\nRecently, I received an email from a viewer who was disturbed by an AI-generated voiceover on a cable show. The viewer expressed their belief that the voice was AI-generated, and they questioned whether the voice actor, Bill Kurtis, had given permission for this use. The viewer's concern highlights a growing issue that has yet to receive widespread attention: the unauthorized replication of someone's voice without their consent.\n\nThis situation raises serious ethical and legal questions about the use of AI in the media industry. When an AI system imitates a person's voice, it not only undermines the authenticity of the original voice but also infringes upon the individual's right to control their own likeness and voice. The viewer's email underscores the urgent need for a clear understanding of the boundaries and regulations surrounding the use of AI-generated voices. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial that we address these concerns promptly to protect the rights and reputations of individuals whose voices may be exploited without their permission.",
  "summary": "They appeared like mushrooms after a rain. No announcement of their coming. No explanation. Like Stanley Kubrick’s monolith in the desert. No warning that they would promise to give us the world so they could take our jobs — our soul. Data centers — the home of artificial intelligence. I’m a television journalist, a narrator. That means I transform the written word into audio that matches the…",
  "key_points": [
    "AI-generated voice imitated journalist's Bill Kurtis without consent.",
    "Viewer expressed concern about unauthorized voice replication.",
    "Ethical and legal questions arise over AI voice use in media."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The unauthorized replication of professional narration through artificial intelligence threatens the personal identity and legal control of voice actors as the media industry outpaces current regulatory boundaries.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}