Hi there.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this newsletter laying out the full story on my brush with AI 'theft.' At that point - I thought I'd sort of come to the end of the road with what I could do with the whole thing since I'd signed that dreaded Ursula-esque life 'n' soul crushing contract.

This is turning out to be quite the never-ending story however, as since then a number of international media outlets have taken an interest in it. The whole question of AI, and what it means for the future of humans and human endeavour and creation in our society is a very hot topic right now. So much so that places like The Washington Post and Bloomberg have written about it. Since these articles went live, voice-overs and journalists from around the world have been getting in touch - and tech queen Kim Komando invited me onto her show to talk about my experience (that will be out next week, and will find its way promptly into my next newsletter you'll be very glad to hear!).

Across all industries - well beyond the bubble of voice acting - people are paying attention to what has happened to me and other voice artists who've found themselves in similar situations, like Mike Cooper and Bev Standing. Although this appears to be a discussion about voice-over artists - a niche profession to put it lightly - what it's really about is humanity vs the machine, and the very natural worries that arise when one lives through the rapid development of technology in real time.

During our interview, Kim Komando likened this AI surge to the invention of the Gutenberg press and the powerful cultural shift that took place as a result. AI will - and already is - having huge implications on our society at a pace of change that we've never known before, and across multiple disciplines.

This leaves many of us wondering - what does the future of humanity hold?
If AI is left to run unchecked, without any legal boundaries in place, will it eventually cancel out the work of creatives worldwide? And if art helps to form human society, what sort of a future are we facing into when all of the 'creativity' we encounter may soon be but a shadow of what humans once envisioned and made real? At its extreme end, the next stage of our society could be one devoid of freshness, of the inspired 'new', and of spirit, magic, and soul. 

Ultimately, we still have the power to decide what we wish to step into and create. And I for one, will not let that sort of future come to pass. Not on my watch. 

If you still fancy the human touch, You know what to do.