Tech YouTuber Marques ‘MKBHD’ Brownlee has publicly criticized a company for using an AI-generated replica of his voice in ads without his consent. On October 14, 2024, Brownlee took to social media to express his frustration, calling the company’s actions "scummy" and "shady." He shared that these companies often exploit AI technology to replicate voices of popular influencers, all without repercussions.
It's happening. There are real companies who will just use an AI-created rip of my voice to promote their stuff. And there's really no repercussions for it other than being known as this scummy shady company that is willing to stoop that low to sell some product pic.twitter.com/Y12XGKNqFO
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) October 14, 2024
While AI-generated content has surged since 2022, there’s increasing concern about the ethical use of AI, especially when it comes to mimicking well-known personalities. Brownlee has faced similar issues before, such as an AI-powered chatbot using his name and likeness without permission earlier this year.
As AI technology becomes more common, platforms like YouTube have started implementing policies to help creators report unauthorized AI content. However, Brownlee’s case highlights the ongoing challenges content creators face in protecting their identity and work from AI misuse.
