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Voice actors in Japan plan to set up an organization to protect their voices against unauthorized use by generative artificial intelligence.

The members of Voice Integrity and Dubbing Advancement, or VIDA, will include actors, their talent agencies, and firms and entities that use audio-related AI technology. They announced the plan at a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Kubo Masakazu, a VIDA representative, said the initiative is aimed at protecting the artists' data and expanding the possibilities of their voices.

Kubo said VIDA is looking at authentication technology to detect pirated content. The new group also plans to use an AI tool to dub voice data into other languages after gaining consent from the rights holders.

The dubbing equipment was demonstrated at the news conference. It translated Japanese sentences read by voice actor Kanai Mika into English, Chinese and other languages without changing the vocal quality.

The group says the tool can dub voice data into more than 30 languages.
Kanai says voice actors like herself now live in an era where they have to coexist with AI, but she hopes measures will be taken to protect their rights.