How is it possible that AI voices, or computer voices could be helping my voice over business?  Isn’t it true that they are cheap?  Won’t that put me out of business?

Ok, well let’s start with cost.  AI, or artificial intelligence voices are cheaper than hiring someone like me.  There’s no getting around it.  If it’s cheap you are looking for, a computer voice for your project MIGHT be the way to go.  But as is often the case, the lowest price is not always the cheapest way to go.

Is cheap really saving you money?

Let me ask you this.  If you started a hometown business; you designed a nice store; classy; laid out just the right way to help you sell your products.  You have a great location.  You worked hard to get your inventory exactly right to help your sales.  You trained your employees to provide the best and most knowledgeable customer service in town.  Your store is clean and inviting.  Would you then, top it off with a plywood sign, painted in spray-paint?  Probably not.  But people do that all the time with artificial voices.  But, nonetheless, it is cheaper to “hire” a computer voice for your video or commercial.

Is AI hurting me?

How does that affect me as a voice artist?  Well, most of the people that hire me, want quality, not cheap.  They want to present their business with a certain kind of image.  And going cheap doesn’t do that.  The voice artists that are most affected by artificial voices are the ones that are working at the bottom of the pile.  The ones that are selected based on price, and nothing else.  I don’t run with that crowd, so, really it’s just sending the people hiring voice talent based on price alone, away from me.

What I want to be

It’s actually good for me.  I end up working with people and agencies that are concerned with quality.  They hire the best copywriters and videographers.  And they don’t skimp on voice talent.  So, it’s been a positive affect for my business by steering away the tire kickers which saves me time to concentrate on being the best voice artist.

AI- what I don’t want to be!

Artificial voices have also pointed out to me what I don’t want to be.  I don’t want to sound like cardboard.  I want to sound genuine; emotional and real.  As if I’m talking directly to you.  Maybe someday Artificial voices will be able to pull that off, but I’m just not hearing it now.  I can immediately tell an artificial voice when I hear it.  And so can everyone else.  You can feel it.  Or, should I say, you don’t feel it.  AI voices miss the feeling of real.

There’s no getting around it.  AI voices are here to stay.  But the people who should be most worried about AI as competition are the ones on the bottom.  The Fiverr voice people.  The guys and gals at the top, have nothing to worry about.  If you’re a voice talent, strive to be the best and leave AI and the rest of the non-players in the dust.