Voice actor: 'ScotRail must stop using my voice for AI announcements'
Her voice has been used to train the new AI-generated announcements on ScotRail trains – something the Swedish tech company ReadSpeaker was covered in their contract.
But in a Facebook post, Potter said: 'I discovered last week that ScotRail's new horrible AI train announcer Iona is in fact using my voice data – and nobody told me.
'I have been in dispute with a company in Sweden, ReadSpeaker, for over two years to get my voice data removed from their website.'
READ MORE: Warning as no trains to run on busy Glasgow Central route
The voiceover artist, whose credits include work for CBBC, Heart Scotland and STV, said that her understanding of her arrangement with ReadSpeaker was to 'provide text to speech recordings to be used for translation purposes from foreign language copy pasted into their site, and as an accessibility tool for people with visual impairment'.
Potter added: 'So imagine my distress when I discover that ScotRail have installed the ReadSpeaker model Iona that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on their trains.
'I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent. I was not given a choice.
'Four years ago, we didn't have the AI we use now. You cannot consent to something that doesn't exist. You should be able to withdraw your consent at any point. Readspeaker won't let me.'
She said that her issue with the company was 'not about money', adding: 'It's about my identity. I feel violated.
'ScotRail should employ a real human irrespective of who it is. Why continue to choose a dreadful AI version of me when I'm right here – and I know how to pronounce Milngavie?'
READ MORE: Edinburgh Marathon runners stranded by busy ScotRail trains
Iona, the name given to ScotRail's AI announcer, has been used on some routes including those north of Inverness and its high-speed, inter-city services over the last 10 months.
A spokesperson for the company said: 'It would be a matter for Ms Potter to take up with ReadSpeaker, who her contract is with. We have no plans to remove the voice from our trains.'
ReadSpeaker chief marketing officer Roy Lindemann said: "We are aware of Ms Potter's concerns. ReadSpeaker and Ms Potter have a contract regarding the use of her voice.
'ReadSpeaker has comprehensively addressed Ms Potter's concerns with her legal representative several times in the past."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
‘There's big decisions to be made' – Eddie Howe breaks his silence on Alexander Isak telling Newcastle he wants to leave
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EDDIE HOWE admits Newcastle need to 'make a decision' on the future of Alexander Isak. But the Toon boss has insisted that any negotiation for their £150m-rated star striker must be in the best interests of the club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Eddie Howe knows losing his top striker will be a big blow Credit: Rex 5 Isak wants out from Newcastle and has made it clear he wants to leave Credit: PA 5 The Swedish striker will not be short on suitors with Liverpool and Al-Hilal leading the way Credit: PA Isak, 25, is understood to have told the Newcastle hierarchy that he wants to leave this summer and will not sign an extension on his current deal that expires in 2028. Having not travelled on the club's Asia pre-season tour with a reported thigh strain, Liverpool are said to be preparing a world-record bid to lure Isak to Anfield. Sunsport understands that Saudi side Al-Hilal have offered him a £32million-a-year deal — but his heart is set on Liverpool. Quizzed on Isak's future hours after landing in Singapore, Howe said: 'There's always big decisions to make when you're at Newcastle. That goes with the territory. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL NOU START Marcus Rashford back with ex-fiancee Lucia Loi as she joins him in Barcelona 'I wouldn't put a timescale on it. With these situations, it has to be right for the football club. 'Obviously, everything is taken into context below that, but the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has. 'Ultimately, to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it's up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. 'That's what we're trying to do, regardless of Alex's situation. Of course, we want stability and we want the group to have a really good feeling. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'We are in a very strong position financially. We are determined to be successful. 'We are ambitious. We've got a great season ahead of us. We need to add to the squad and continue to improve. 'And if the journey can continue to an upward trajectory, I think that's what we all want. So that's what we're battling to try and achieve.' Newcastle plotting Benjamin Sesko bid to replace Alexander Isak Liverpool have recently signed Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for £79m, but are still open to breaking the bank for Isak – who has also been monitored by Arsenal. Isak pulled out of Newcastle's 4-0 friendly defeat to Celtic last weekend through injury, which coincided with rumours of his departure ramping up. Howe continued: 'I have to say, the feeling during pre-season has been as good as any other. "I don't think we're distracted. We're here, we're focused and we're working hard. 'Of course there are things going on behind the scenes. [Isak] will be aware, he's in the news every day and I'm sure that's not easy for anyone in that situation. 5 Isak signed for Newcastle in 2022 for a club record fee of £63million 5 He scored 23 league goals last season as they qualified for Champions League football Credit: The Times 'I'm not actually having daily contact with anyone connected with the board, we're out here, it's been a whirlwind here in the sense of training and the intensity of what we're doing. 'So, that's for other people to deal with back home. I've got 30 players here that I need to look out for and to prepare the team as best we can. 'We do share a really good relationship with him. He's been magnificent for us since he's joined. He's very popular in the dressing room. 'We'd love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Hopefully he'll be back playing the black and white shirt, that's what we all want to see.' On whether Isak is close to signing a new deal at St James' Park, Howe added: 'As far as I am aware, I don't think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment. 'That would be for a later date potentially. With the situation as it is, there's still so much that could happen. 'I said against Celtic after the game, I certainly hope he stays. I said I was confident that he'd stay. "I don't see anything that's going to change that opinion of mine at the moment. 'But it's football, and who knows what the future may bring.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Newcastle haunted by Alexander Isak U-turn as broken transfer promise emerges
Newcastle could lose Alexander Isak this summer with the striker eyeing up other options - just 12 months after the Swedish forward saw a contract promise broken Newcastle face the prospect of losing Alexander Isak this summer - with the Swede telling the club he wants to explore his options away from St James' Park. The forward has become one of Europe's elite No.9s and has spearheaded the Magpies' recent rise, but is now considering a move for pastures new - with Liverpool the favourites to land the £125million-rated star. It comes a year after he thought a new contract was coming his way, only for those talks to be shelved in a move that still stings. Even before his record-breaking recent season, Isak was clearly heading towards top-class status and former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi reassured the forward and his camp in March of last year that improved terms were on the way. However a change to the hierarchy meant that promise was broken and that stung Isak. Now, with the club wanting to reward his importance with a new contract, the player is instead looking at what could be on the horizon for him away from Newcastle. It all comes back to the decision taken by former sporting director Paul Mitchell, who has since left after only spending a year in his role. The ex-Monaco and Tottenham chief told Isak that he would not be offered a new deal with the salary he wanted potentially leading to Profit and Sustainability breaches, as reported the Daily Mail. Mitchell felt that the Swede still had four years left to run on his contract - now three - and was already among the club's highest earners. It has been claimed that the decision upset Isak, with his frustration impacting on the dressing room as a whole. In light of his stellar season, where Isak scored 27 times in all competitions, including one in the Carabao Cup final, the club are ready to offer him a huge pay increase but it may be a case of too little, too late with the player making rumblings that he wants a new challenge elsewhere. Eddie Howe has confessed that any decision must benefit Newcastle, with the club potentially landing a British-record fee if Isak does leave, with the hierarchy ultimately making the final call on his future. He said: "The club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. "But I think there's a wider picture here. There's a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Alexander Isak offered whopping £32M-A-YEAR deal from Saudi but star has heart set on record-breaking Liverpool transfer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEXANDER ISAK has been offered a £32million-a-year deal from Saudi Arabia — but his heart is set on Liverpool. The Swedish striker, 25, told Newcastle he wants to leave after they knocked back the Reds' initial approach over a potential British-record £120m move last week. 2 Alexander Isak has rejected a big money move to the Middle East Credit: Getty SunSport understands he could now submit a transfer request to push for a switch to the Premier League champions. And he wants to head to Anfield despite the extraordinary offer from Al-Hilal, which would also see him land a £14m signing-on bonus and a host of other incentives. Isak would pocket £3.6m for winning the Saudi Pro League, £3.8m for lifting the Asian Champions League and a further £1.75m for finishing as the division's top scorer. Also on offer is £120,000 a month in personal expenses to cover travel for him and his family, a club house with four full-time staff and a full-time chauffeur. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Man Utd files Amorim considers shock striker deal as bankrupt legend is given busy schedule Isak would be provided with a private jet for him and his family whenever he is called up for Sweden duty. It would make him the fifth-highest earner behind only Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Isak only has eyes for Liverpool. The Toon are refusing to sell last season's 27-goal top scorer despite him not going on their pre-season tour to Asia. They have been unable to persuade him to sign a £300,000-a-week deal making him Newcastle's highest-ever earner. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And they fear he could force a move by handing in a written transfer request. Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement. Newcastle plotting Benjamin Sesko bid to replace Alexander Isak And they are planning a £35m bid for Brentford's Yoane Wissa after a £25m offer was rejected. New Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who snubbed Tyneside for the Reds, has dropped a big hint that Isak could be joining him at Anfield. The Frenchman cost £69m from Frankfurt and boss Arne Slot wants Isak to join him, Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz in a new-look attack. And Ekitike, 23, revealed how much he likes a strike partner. He said: 'I can play alone and also with another striker and that's what makes me versatile. "You know now in football you need to adapt." 2 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
