UPDATE 9/23: The CEO of Elecrow responded. I've posted a follow-up blog post with my reaction to the response and some other thoughts on AI voice cloning.
Listen to this clip:
I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty familiar. I mean I would like you to subscribe to my YouTube channel. But that's the Jeff Geerling channel, not Elecrow, where the clip above is from. I never said the words that are in that video.
Someone emailed me a link to Elecrow's video and said it sounded off. I'm guessing at least some of the thousands of people who watched the video thought I agreed to voice some Elecrow videos, since I talk about some of the same topics on my channel.
I even reviewed one of their products a few years ago, the CrowPi 2. I didn't have a bad relationship with them in the past. They make electronics and even Raspberry Pi accessories.
There's also a video version of this blog post, if you don't enjoy reading, and wish to hear the clip embedded above in context, for a direct comparison with my natural voice.
And I don't know if I can prove it, I mean how can you? But I'm pretty sure they fed my YouTube videos into some AI voice clone tool, then used my voice to narrate multiple series of promotional tutorials, like this one on ESP32, and this one on RP2040.
That's... not cool.
I remember when OpenAI practically cloned Scarlett Johanssen's voice, but I thought the fallout from that would lead to companies being careful about the AI voices they use for things like product demos and tutorials...
Apparently not.
I haven't decided what to do. I mean, like I said, I haven't had a problem with Elecrow in the past. I'm hoping beyond all hope it was an honest mistake and they didn't even realize it was my voice.
But beyond that, the worse thing is there isn't any legal precedent for unauthorized AI voice cloning, at least not that I'm aware of. There is precedent for not using someone's voice in commercial works without their consent. Look up Midler vs. Ford.
I don't know if I want to do anything with lawyers, because that costs money and right now I'm just trying to keep my old Camry running through the end of the year. And I'm not even sure non-consensual voice cloning is against YouTube's Terms of Service.
But the main thing is, I want to make a point—that's why I'm writing this post:
You can't just steal someone's voice or likeness, and slap it on your products or videos.
You should hire a voiceover artist, or pay a content creator to work with you. A lot of brands actually do that! Just... don't steal my voice and use it to promote your product.
Update: I sent an email tonight, requesting Elecrow take down at least the two series with this AI voice that sounds like me, after a few people suggested doing so. I also asked if it was intentional that the voice sounded like me, or if they trained the voice ('cloned' it) on my own video or audio content. We'll see if they respond!
I'd rather start on that foot than any YouTube takedowns or legal action, like I said, I've had no trouble in the past, and I'm not 100% certain this was intentional.
I am 100% aware Elecrow knows of my channel, though, as I have over 43 emails back and forth with five different Elecrow marketing reps, spanning from 2020 to today (22 of those emails are from this year). They have even asked if they could do a paid partnership in the past, too:
Hi Jeff, can we talk about a paid partnership? I am looking forward to your reply.
(April 2, 2024 email from Elecrow marketing rep)
UPDATE 9/23: See the note at the top of this blog post for the latest updates on this situation.
Comments
That’s so shady. Someone definitely intentionally trained an AI on your videos. In the best case, this was a proof of concept that got accidentally released. That demonstrates gross incompetence that brings everything else they do into suspect. At worst, how dare they! I definitely won’t be purchasing any more of their products.
Love your real videos, this is terrible.
Wow. This was completely believable until they slipped up after 01:50 with “obtain-ed”, “cir-kew-it diagram”, and “user man-u-el”. Scary stuff. If you did want to fight, surely there is a voiceprint analyzer that would prove the similarity.
Jeff they most likely used eleven labs
Hi Jeff, you may find an episode of the BBC's Tech Life podcast interesting (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5wml) called "the voice cloning lawsuit". The company was making AI voices available from samples recorded legitimately but for testing purposes only.
It doesn't sound like you at all, just has similar generic cadence that every other YouTuber is using.
Well I und erstand that this is a shocking Moment, to hear your own voice saying words you didnt said. But AS you point out the Situation Seen to be unclear and personally I Bad bot in DirectX contact before you go public. Beide the legal sie there is AFAIK always the possibility of just stupid actions of single employes etc... ;)
BTW: Would you share voice samples to Common Voice repo to power FLOSS voice assistants?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeTybKL1pM4
You can blame elevenlabs.io for this
This is extremely illegal. Contact an entertainment lawyer.
I had just discovered Elecrow and thought they were doing cool stuff. Ugh. Time to bin them
The information just wants to be free crowd is having their content pirated. The irony
There’s a pretty big gulf between piracy and having words put in your mouth.
Would you like to provide voice samples for the class to demonstrate the difference to you?
As of writing this comment, all of their videos you linked in your video are “hidden” - so they’re definitely aware you know, now.
I’m hoping you had the opportunity to reach out to YouTube or still plan to; this is a really clear example of crossing the line.
Hi Jeff, you could try out Resemble's detection tools: https://www.resemble.ai/detect-solution/
(I've only used Resemble for generation, but the team behind it is ethically-minded)
Indeed! I'm actually going to talk to their founder tomorrow — interesting tool they have!
The response from the CEO was 100% a ChatGPT-written response.
People copy Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice all the time without his consent and it hasn't been an issue.
People like your voice, and now more people will know about you. That's a win, not something to complain about.
This stinks and is another version of a deep fake. I see videos all over YouTube where creators are clearly trying to capitalize on the likeness of someone else. Including people who are deceased (ie: Neville Goddard, C.S. Lewis come to mind). Full videos of people who are fabricated are being used to scam the unknowing on YT, Bookface, IG but they get advertising revenue so they have zero incentive to take these down. I hope you are successful in your cease and desist.
Nope. No. It does NOT sound like you at all.