Bandai Namco has denied allegations of using AI-generated voice acting in the game Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections. Fans and some voice actors had raised concerns about the English dub voice performances, claiming that they sounded out of place and did not match the on-screen action. Voice actors Maile Flanagan and Michael Schwalbe also expressed confusion, stating that they did not recall recording certain lines as they appear in the game.
Bandai Namco has attributed the inconsistencies to editing issues and has refuted claims of AI involvement. In a statement to Dot Esports, the company clarified that the problematic lines were not AI-generated but rather the result of inconsistencies during the editing and mastering process. Bandai Namco acknowledged the concern raised by fans and the voice acting community and assured that they are working to fix the voice lines in question through a future patch.
While fans may be relieved to hear that AI was not used in the voicework, the use of AI remains a potential threat to professional voice actors. If companies can replicate voices using AI for free, there is a risk of job loss for human voice actors. Additionally, concerns have been raised about fair compensation for voice actors when their AI copies are used and the potential use of their voices even after their death without consent. These are valid concerns that the voice acting community continues to grapple with.
Source: DOTESPORTS
