July 15, 2021

Thoughts on cloning voices of the deceased

Descript’s Overdub technology allows anyone to create a text to speech version of their own voice by providing about ten minutes of recorded audio. We don’t allow people to clone voices other than their own, both via our terms of use, and the voice identification protocol we have built into our training data collection process.
July 15, 2021

Thoughts on cloning voices of the deceased

Descript’s Overdub technology allows anyone to create a text to speech version of their own voice by providing about ten minutes of recorded audio. We don’t allow people to clone voices other than their own, both via our terms of use, and the voice identification protocol we have built into our training data collection process.
July 15, 2021
Andrew Mason
In this article
Start editing audio & video
This makes the editing process so much faster. I wish I knew about Descript a year ago.
Matt D., Copywriter
Sign up

What type of content do you primarily create?

Videos
Podcasts
Social media clips
Transcriptions
Start editing audio & video
This makes the editing process so much faster. I wish I knew about Descript a year ago.
Matt D., Copywriter
Sign up

What type of content do you primarily create?

Videos
Podcasts
Social media clips
Transcriptions

Descript’s Overdub technology allows anyone to create a text to speech version of their own voice by providing about ten minutes of recorded audio. We don’t allow people to clone voices other than their own, both via our terms of use, and the voice identification protocol we have built into our training data collection process.

We’re frequently asked to clone voices of the deceased, a question that’s currently receiving attention due to the use of a voice clone in the new documentary about Anthony Bourdain.

image

For what it’s worth, here’s our take: Unapproved voice cloning is a slippery slope – as soon as you get into a world where you’re making subjective judgment calls about whether specific cases can be ethical, it won’t be long before anything goes. Even if you think that the use in the Bourdain documentary is ethical, is there enough upside to open this Pandora’s Box? We think the answer is no – whatever the path may be to universal enlightenment, we can get there without reanimating the dead.

Andrew Mason
CEO & founder at Descript. Former CEO & founder at Detour, former CEO & co-founder at Groupon.
Share this article
Start creating—for free
Sign up
Join millions of others creating with Descript

Thoughts on cloning voices of the deceased

Descript’s Overdub technology allows anyone to create a text to speech version of their own voice by providing about ten minutes of recorded audio. We don’t allow people to clone voices other than their own, both via our terms of use, and the voice identification protocol we have built into our training data collection process.

We’re frequently asked to clone voices of the deceased, a question that’s currently receiving attention due to the use of a voice clone in the new documentary about Anthony Bourdain.

image

For what it’s worth, here’s our take: Unapproved voice cloning is a slippery slope – as soon as you get into a world where you’re making subjective judgment calls about whether specific cases can be ethical, it won’t be long before anything goes. Even if you think that the use in the Bourdain documentary is ethical, is there enough upside to open this Pandora’s Box? We think the answer is no – whatever the path may be to universal enlightenment, we can get there without reanimating the dead.

Featured articles:

No items found.

Articles you might find interesting

Video

How to A/B test on YouTube for better video performance

A/B testing can help boost your video's stats long after it's published. This guide share which tools to use and how to avoid common mistakes.

Product Updates

New: Project sidebar, edit-boundary review, comment tagging

A new version of Descript features an improved Project Sidebar, edit boundary review tool, and comment tagging.

Podcasting

How to write a newsletter that takes your podcast to the next level

With all the work required of a podcast, a newsletter can feel daunting. We talked to a ton of podcasters about how to write a newsletter the right way.

Video

Shooting video? Here's a handy 11-point checklist for a smooth video shoot

This article explains each of the stages of video production, then breaks the production process down even further into a handy 11-point checklist you can use to plan your next video project — and end up with a great video to show for it.

Podcasting

3 unique ways to grow an interview podcast

If you have an interview podcast and you’re looking to grow your audience, congratulations: you already have built-in growth potential. Here's how to take advantage of that potential.

Podcasting

How to track podcast analytics: 5 data points to measure and grow your show

In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most common podcast analytics, why you may want to consider tracking them, and how to use the information you gather to make strategic decisions about your show.

Related articles:

Share this article

Get started for free →