Whether it’s in art, writing, or other fields, AI has been a hot topic for the last couple of months, and there seems to be no slowing down. In fact, Sony Music Entertainment recently used AI technology to bring back a deceased voice actor for a new audiobook app.
This was revealed during Sony Music Entertainment’s recent launch of the YOMIBITO audiobook app.
Specifically, this app uses voice recordings combined with AI technology to synthesize voices. These voices are then used to read classic Japanese literature.
AI and the Anime Industry
Earlier in 2022, AI art generators such as DALL-E and Stable Diffusion got a lot of attention as they showed remarkable capabilities in turning text prompts into illustrations and other artworks.
Soon, other AI tools such as text generators like ChatGPT or AI voice generators have also been released and experienced a massive rise in popularity.
AI proponents believe that these tools can help boost productivity thanks to faster production.
However, there are also many detractors, with many considering AI art generators prone to plagiarizing works.
There are also fears of AI replacing artists, writers, and professionals in a variety of fields.
These fears are further stoked by the fact that companies are looking into integrating AI tools more.
For instance, Netflix recently shared a test study for the use of AI in creating backgrounds and other art for anime. Even One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda experimented with AI for some story ideas.
Of course, not everyone is fine with using AI in the anime industry. For instance, Hayao Miyazaki is a noted creator who abhors AI and works made with it.
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AI Used to Bring Back Deceased VA in Audiobook App
Recently, Sony Music Entertainment’s new YOMIBITO Plus used AI tech by the company CoeFont to recreate the voice of deceased VA Kenji Utsumi, the voice of Alex Louis Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist and Shenron in Dragon Ball.
In the video showcasing the app’s capabilities, Utsumi’s talent agency, Ken Production, and his son, Kentaro Utsumi, shared their positive reactions to the technology.
How it works is that 15 minutes of voice samples are taken, and with AI tech, a synthesized voice is created to read Japanese literature.
Voice actor Shuichiro Umeda (Izumi in Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie) was also in the video to demo the tech.
With AI seeing more use in the Japanese entertainment industry, it’ll be interesting (and scary) to find out what will happen in many other industries as AI technology improves.
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Sources: Comic Natalie, Anime News Network
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