AI is breathing new life into the voices of the deceased, raising questions about artists' rights and the ethical implications of synthetic speech. The startup ElevenLabs has launched a marketplace for licensing AI versions of iconic voices, both living and deceased, for various content creation. This includes actors like Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine, who have agreed to have their voices synthesized. However, the company also offers access to the voices of historical figures such as Judy Garland, James Dean, Maya Angelou, and Alan Turing, raising concerns about consent and the potential misuse of these voices. The article highlights the economic incentives behind this technology, comparing it to holographic tours and deepfake AI. It emphasizes the importance of estate planning for celebrities and creative professionals to ensure control over their posthumous AI content. The story concludes with a reference to Franz Kafka's wish for his work to be burned, questioning the balance between honoring artists' wishes and the potential benefits of their work being preserved through AI.
