Ned Luke, the actor known for portraying Michael De Santa in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5), has openly criticized the AI company WAME for creating an unauthorized chatbot that mimics his voice. This controversy highlights the growing concerns around the use of AI in replicating human voices without consent.
Ned Luke took to Twitter to express his disapproval of WAME’s actions, stating, “This is f-ing bulls WAME. There is nothing cool about ripping people off with some lame computer estimation of my voice. Don’t waste your time on this garbage.” His strong words reflect the frustration and potential legal implications of such unlicensed use of a person’s likeness or voice.
This is fucking bullshit @wamexyz absolutely nothing cool about ripping people off with some lame computer estimation of my voice. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS GARBAGE…
Grand Theft Vocal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️@RockstarGames @rclark98 @sagaftra https://t.co/QKGxygRp7x
— Ned Luke (@ned_luke) January 14, 2024
The AI chatbot was designed to simulate the character Michael from GTA 5. Still, it appears to have been developed without the necessary permissions from either Ned Luke or Rockstar Games, the creators of GTA 5. Following Luke’s public outcry, WAME removed all tweets related to the chatbot and subsequently took it down from the internet.
This incident is not the first of its kind. Last year, Rockstar Games, under its parent company Take-Two, issued a DMCA takedown of a similar AI mod for GTA 5. This mod allowed players to interact with non-playable characters using their authentic voice. The mod removal was a clear message about the company’s stance on unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
Ned Luke tagged both Rockstar Games and the SAG-AFTRA union, indicating a move to bring this issue to the attention of higher authorities. This action underscores the increasing need for clear regulations and ethical guidelines in using AI, mainly concerning personal identity and privacy.
