Yuki Kaji, the voice of Eren, offers her AI voice to the audience

Renowned Japanese voice actor Yuki Kaji, famous for playing Eren Jaeger in "Shingeki no Kyojin," has released his official voice synthesis software on November 21. This innovative project includes Soyogi Soyogi, an alter ego specially designed for this initiative, and is available in two versions: one that reproduces his spoken voice and another that emulates his singing. Both models can be purchased through the CeVIO AI, VoiSona and VoiSona Talk platforms.

The project came about as a way to commemorate Kaji's 20-year career in the voice acting industry. In September 2023, it announced the initiative and launched a crowdfunding campaign through the Campfire platform. Although its initial goal was to raise 10 million yen, the public's response exceeded all expectations, reaching more than 34.1 million yen, more than triple the original goal.

This release not only celebrates Kaji's career, but also addresses a growing problem in the entertainment industry: the unauthorized use of human voices to train artificial intelligence models. Kaji explained that the idea to develop this software came from his ongoing concern about how generative AI was creating a legal gray area around voice rights. With these official models, the actor offers creators a legitimate way to use their talent, protecting their intellectual property and encouraging an ethical use of emerging technologies.

The controversy surrounding generative AI is not new in Japan. In October, a group of 26 prominent anime and video game voice actors formed the organization "No More Unauthorized Generative AI", with the aim of raising awareness of this issue and promoting the protection of their rights in a context of rapid technological evolution. Yuki Kaji's software represents a pioneering example of how voice actors can use technology proactively, creating solutions that balance innovation and respect for intellectual property.

Source: Gamebiz