Latest news with #ReadSpeaker
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scotrail backtrack after new train announcements 'stole woman's voice'
The train provider previously said they won't be removing the new robot voice AI TOLD YOU SO Scotrail backtrack after new train announcements 'stole woman's voice' SCOTRAIL is "fixing" an AI train announcer after claims it uses a woman's voice without her permission, the First Minister has said. John Swinney said there had been some "controversy" over the case, after Scottish voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed the publicly-owned rail operator based its AI announcer - who is known as Iona - on recordings she made in 2021. 3 ScotRail is 'fixing' its AI train announcer after claims the voice was stolen from a real person Credit: Getty 3 John Swinney said at Holyrood today that the AI voice would be 'fixed' Credit: Alamy 3 Gayanne Potter, the voice actress who accused ScotRail of stealing her voice Credit: Supplied But after prompting from Fiona Hyslop, he said: "The Transport Secretary tells me they're fixing it, so they will be fixing it." Ms Potter has welcomed this commitment as a "meaningful step forward". The issue was raised at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, with Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asking if it is how the Scottish Government - which took ScotRail into public ownership in 2022 - "supports actors". The Tory pressed the case with Mr Swinney after Ms Potter, in a widely shared Facebook post, accused ScotRail of dismissing her concerns. She said Iona came from voice data held by Swedish-based company ReadSpeaker, who she did recordings for in 2021 - adding that by using her voice in an AI model the company had acted outside of the terms of her agreement with them. Ms Potter spoke of her "distress" at discovering Scotland had "installed the ReadSpeaker model 'Iona' that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on all their trains". She insisted: "I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent." Mr Swinney said he is "sure" the rail operator will be "engaging constructively with all concerned". He added: "I think sometimes these things do indeed need careful handling and I am sure ScotRail will be doing exactly that." Following the First Minister's comments, a spokeswoman for Ms Potter told the PA news agency: "We welcome the fact that the First Minister acknowledged the issue at hand and confirmed that ScotRail 'will be fixing it'. "While the language may not be definitive at this stage, this public commitment is a meaningful step forward for Gayanne, and other artists in her position. "That said, this case isn't just about hiring Scottish actors. It's about the use of a real actor's voice without her informed consent, and the broader need for ethical standards in the deployment of AI voice technology. "We now hope that 'fixing it' will include direct engagement with Gayanne, proper accountability from those responsible, and a clear commitment to ensuring that consent, transparency, and fair treatment become non-negotiable in the use of AI by public bodies. "The public sector needs to be rigorous in their procurement of AI solutions and the commercial partnerships they strike with AI companies." Ms Potter's representative said the voice actress had been told by ScotRail earlier this week that the matter was between her and ReadSpeaker. She said they would request that ScotRail cease using "Iona", adding: "Any use of Gayanne's or anyone else's voice through AI must be based on her full, informed consent and agreed upon under fair conditions." ReadSpeaker has said it has a contract to use her voice and its legal team has "comprehensively" addressed Ms Potter's concerns.
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
ScotRail is 'fixing' AI train announcer after voice controversy
But after prompting from Fiona Hyslop, he said: 'The Transport Secretary tells me they're fixing it, so they will be fixing it.' Ms Potter has welcomed this commitment as a 'meaningful step forward'. The issue was raised at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, with Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asking if it is how the Scottish Government – which took ScotRail into public ownership in 2022 – 'supports actors'. The Tory pressed the case with Mr Swinney after Ms Potter, in a widely shared Facebook post, accused ScotRail of dismissing her concerns. She said Iona came from voice data held by Swedish-based company ReadSpeaker, who she did recordings for in 2021 – adding that by using her voice in an AI model the company had acted outside of the terms of her agreement with them. Ms Potter spoke of her 'distress' at discovering Scotland had 'installed the ReadSpeaker model 'Iona' that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on all their trains'. She insisted: 'I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent.' Mr Swinney said he is 'sure' the rail operator will be 'engaging constructively with all concerned'. He added: 'I think sometimes these things do indeed need careful handling and I am sure ScotRail will be doing exactly that.' Following the First Minister's comments, a spokeswoman for Ms Potter told the PA news agency: 'We welcome the fact that the First Minister acknowledged the issue at hand and confirmed that ScotRail 'will be fixing it'. 'While the language may not be definitive at this stage, this public commitment is a meaningful step forward for Gayanne, and other artists in her position. 'That said, this case isn't just about hiring Scottish actors. It's about the use of a real actor's voice without her informed consent, and the broader need for ethical standards in the deployment of AI voice technology. 'We now hope that 'fixing it' will include direct engagement with Gayanne, proper accountability from those responsible, and a clear commitment to ensuring that consent, transparency, and fair treatment become non-negotiable in the use of AI by public bodies. 'The public sector needs to be rigorous in their procurement of AI solutions and the commercial partnerships they strike with AI companies.' Ms Potter's representative said the voice actress had been told by ScotRail earlier this week that the matter was between her and ReadSpeaker. She said they would request that ScotRail cease using 'Iona', adding: 'Any use of Gayanne's or anyone else's voice through AI must be based on her full, informed consent and agreed upon under fair conditions.' ReadSpeaker has said it has a contract to use her voice and its legal team has 'comprehensively' addressed Ms Potter's concerns.
STV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
ScotRail fixing AI announcer after ‘controversy' over voice, says Swinney
ScotRail is 'fixing' an AI train announcer after claims it uses a woman's voice without her permission, the First Minister has said. John Swinney said there had been some 'controversy' over the case, after Scottish voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed the publicly-owned rail operator based its AI announcer – who is known as Iona – on recordings she made in 2021. But after prompting from Fiona Hyslop, he said: 'The transport secretary tells me they're fixing it, so they will be fixing it.' The issue was raised at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, with Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asking if it is how the Scottish Government – which took ScotRail into public ownership in 2022 – 'supports actors'. The Tory pressed the case with Swinney after Ms Potter, in a widely shared Facebook post, accused ScotRail of dismissing her concerns. She said Iona came from voice data held by Swedish-based company ReadSpeaker, who she did recordings for in 2021 – adding that by using her voice in an AI model the company had acted outside of the terms of her agreement with them. Ms Potter spoke of her 'distress' at discovering Scotland had 'installed the ReadSpeaker model 'Iona' that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on all their trains'. She insisted: 'I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent.' Swinney said he is 'sure' the rail operator will be 'engaging constructively with all concerned'. He added: 'I think sometimes these things do indeed need careful handling and I am sure ScotRail will be doing exactly that.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
ScotRail 'fixing' AI train announcer after artist claimed it was her voice
Gayanne Potter claimed the publicly-owned rail operator based its AI announcer - known as Iona - on recordings she made in 2021. 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".
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OPINION - 'I'm devastated that AI stole my voice' ...Tech & Science Daily podcast
Listen here on your chosen podcast platform. Gayanne Potter told us that ScotRail are using her voice for their new AI train announcements without her permission. ScotRail unveiled their new AI announcer 'Iona' earlier this month, and Gayanne is urging them to change it. Gayanne explained that her voice was taken from a previous employer, Swedish company ReadSpeaker, and claims it was not made clear in her contract that they could use her voice again in the future. This episode includes responses from both ScotRail and ReadSpeaker. Also in this episode: -Disposable vapes are officially banned from Sunday, June 1st -New AI test could end 'postcode lottery' for 'game changer' prostate cancer drug -Drought declared in North West England -Japanese researchers say cats can indeed smell the difference between a stranger and their owner…
