On the 7th, voice talent agency Aoni Production and CoeFont Inc. announced a partnership to expand globally using AI voice technology. In the first phase, 10 voice actors from Aoni Production, including Masako Nozawa and Banjou Ginga, will participate. Their recorded Japanese voices will be converted into AI-generated voices in multiple languages, including English.

Using CoeFont's AI voice technology, the voices of Aoni Production's talented voice actors will be made available in various languages, such as English and Chinese. These high-quality multilingual AI voices will be offered primarily for voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant), robots, and products with voice navigation (e.g., Pepper, medical devices).

This initiative aims to popularize voice recognition technology in global markets and contribute to social welfare, allowing users worldwide to enjoy services with familiar voice actors’ voices.

The background of this global strategy partnership stems from the increasing attention on generative AI and how it intersects with unique voice talents. There have been incidents both domestically and internationally where AI was improperly trained on voice actors' or actors' voices, raising the need for rule-making to protect these rights.

In response, Aoni Production, a leading voice talent agency, and CoeFont, an AI voice platform provider, agreed that rather than viewing AI as a threat, the time had come to take a step forward to enhance the possibilities of voice talent while properly safeguarding performers' rights.

Both companies emphasized that the service would not be used for performance-based content, such as animation or foreign film dubbing. Instead, the AI-generated voices will be used for non-performance purposes, focusing on multilingual applications. The collaboration aims to clearly separate AI voice technology from the traditional voice acting field. Through this partnership, they hope to contribute to building a proper relationship between AI voice technology and voice talent worldwide.

Examples of AI Voice Service Applications:
AI/voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant)
Robots and products with voice navigation (e.g., Pepper, medical devices)

Aoni Production President Kenjiro Takeuchi's Comment:
"The most important thing is to understand that AI is a tool designed to support humans and expand our possibilities. Voice actors breathe life into characters, and we want everyone to recognize this. This initiative views AI voice technology not as an enemy but as a way to deliver the charm of our voices to fans worldwide while safeguarding the rights of voice performers. We've decided to partner with CoeFont to ensure that the appeal of voice actors’ voices, outside of the performance realm, is utilized responsibly and respectfully."

CoeFont President Shogo Hayakawa's Comment:
"We believe that the voices of Japanese voice actors are among the best in the world. We're thrilled to help expand the potential of these captivating voices while protecting their rights. We are excited to use AI to broaden the reach of Japan's talented voices through multilingual capabilities."

CoeFont Official Web SIte

Source : ORICON NEWS