ScotRail 'fixing' AI train announcer after artist claimed it was her voice
ScotRail is addressing issues with an AI train announcer following allegations it used a woman's voice without consent, the First Minister has announced.
John Swinney acknowledged there had been some "controversy" surrounding the matter after Scottish voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed the state-owned rail service modelled its AI announcer – known as Iona – on recordings she made in 2021.
The subject was brought up during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, where Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane questioned if this reflects the Scottish Government's support for actors since ScotRail came under public ownership in 2022.
Dr Gulhane continued to press Mr Swinney on the issue after Ms Potter, in a widely circulated Facebook post, accused ScotRail of ignoring her concerns.
She alleged that Iona's voice originated from voice data held by Swedish company ReadSpeaker, for whom she recorded in 2021, claiming that their use of her voice in an AI model breached the terms of her contract with them.
Ms Potter expressed her "distress" upon learning that Scotland had "installed the ReadSpeaker model 'Iona' that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on all their trains".
She emphasised: "I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent."
Mr Swinney assured that he is "sure" ScotRail will "engage constructively with all concerned".
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