I Want to Be a Voice Actor, But Isn’t AI Taking Over the Industry?

Many aspiring voice actors are looking at the industry right now and collectively asking the same question: “What’s the point?” With so many voice actors battling against AI and AI voices getting better by the minute, you may worry that the rug will be pulled from you before you can even start.

While AI is a concern for voice talents, aspiring actors should not feel defeatist about voice acting and not pursue their dreams. Here are some reasons why you should still pursue a career despite the looming threat of AI.

You Bring Something New, Not an Impression

Have you ever been recommended an AI voice-acting video? Maybe you were recommended a funny video where Trump and Biden are playing Minecraft. Or you were recommended a motivational video from an AI Batman voice that uses Kevin Conroy’s performance.

These videos can be frightening with how on the nose the AI is, but the thing is, the best performing videos are those that base themselves on public figures or iconic characters. If you’re going to voice acting because you can do an amazing impression of Kermit the Frog, you may be in trouble. But if you have your own voice, you’re still in demand.

AI Can’t Act or Improvise

AI voices have evolved a lot in the past 20 years. Think back to the AT&T voices in the 2000s, such as AI Mike. At the time, these voices sounded so high-tech, but we look at them now and they sound so robotic.

This knowledge may make you feel hesitant about pursuing a career as a voice actor. But the thing is that AI can’t act. The voices still sound far unnatural, even if the AI is told to emote. The AI struggles to pronounce some words or emphasizes the wrong words.

Also, AI can’t improvise. Many famous performances were that way because the actors went beyond what was given to them. Think about Robin Williams’s performance as the Genie in Aladdin as an example.

AI is still far away from having the human element that makes a product great, so there is still a need for the human touch. The future may bring AIs that can overcome some of the acting hurdles, but this still does not mean you shouldn’t pursue your dreams!

The Lowest of the Low Are Using AI Voice Acting

Another source of comfort is knowing that not everyone is going to use AI voice acting. Currently, many who are using AI instead of humans were originally clients who would pay next to nothing or pay in “exposure” for human actors. These clients would have unreasonable demands or would not direct you properly, so your performance wouldn’t be your best. Many of these clients are also cranking out low-quality content using other AI assets, too, such as AI-generated video games.

Now, if you’re an aspiring voice actor, you are going to take on smaller clients. It’s nearly impossible to break into a big project on your first go. Therefore, you may worry that the small clients will disappear due to AI. 

However, not all small clients are like the paragraph above. There are many small animators, indie game developers, and other creators who want to use human voices. Even if their budgets are smaller, they are willing to take a hit to bring actual talent to their projects. Because of the backlash against AI, some indie creators love to make it clear that their projects use real voices, never AI.

Many Voice Actors Are Using AI to Their Advantage

A lot of voice actors have a firm stance against AI, and we get it. However, other voice actors believe there’s no closing Pandora’s Box, and they are instead embracing AI. Narrativ is a site that recently struck a deal with SAG-AFTRA that lets voice actors lend their voices for AI purposes, control what their AI voices sound like, and delete their AI files if they no longer want to be AI voice actors.

We are not saying you should not pursue this path, but we’re telling you that there are ways to use AI to make money and make your voice heard.

It’s Never Been a Good Time for the Industry

While AI is a concern, the voice industry has always been rocky. Before the internet went mainstream, getting gigs was much more challenging, and people did not appreciate voice acting as much as they do now.

Before AI was a concern, voice actors still dealt with fierce competition, lower pay, and clients who would stiff them.

The point is that, while it may be a concerning time to get into voice acting, there never has been the “perfect” time. You can wish that you started voice acting earlier or wish you weren’t born in the wrong generation. But if you hesitate, you’ll never make it.

No One Knows What the Future Will Bring

Finally, you should still pursue a career in voice acting because no one knows what the future will bring. Many people do not want to pursue a career in voice acting because they believe that “in a few years,” AI will be indistinguishable from humans. However, no one knows when that technology will come. It can be a few years, or it could be a few decades before AI has truly mastered the art of human emotion. It may never happen.

Also, who knows what regulations will occur? Voice actors may have their jobs protected in the foreseeable future through more union agreements, or the government may step in, or something else may happen entirely.

What we’re trying to say is that the fear of the unknown should never stop you from pursuing your dreams. Even if it’s a side hustle, you should still look into a career as a voice artist. It’s fun, rewarding, and may lead to you finding your big break.

 So get out there and have no fears.