# This AI Company Stole My Voice (allegedly) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDNHLgWInU Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/lxDNHLgWInU Generated: 2026-10-18T20:08:29.936+00:00 --- ## The Gist ElevenLabs cloned podcaster Chris Williamson's voice for one of their stock AI voice models named Archer without his authorization. When Williamson confronted them, ElevenLabs claimed their similarity tests proved the voices were distinct. ## Quick Overview Podcaster Chris Williamson exposes ElevenLabs for using an unauthorized clone of his voice for their platform's popular Archer voice model, sparking a broader discussion about consent, intellectual property, and the lack of legal protections for human vocal cords. Williamson details his investigation, his communication with ElevenLabs and their legal counsel, and the inadequacy of current legal frameworks surrounding AI voice cloning. **Key Points:** - Podcaster Chris Williamson discovered that the popular ElevenLabs AI voice model named Archer was a direct unauthorized clone of his own voice. - ElevenLabs denied any fraudulent behavior by their voice actor and cited a technical ENCAPA TDNN similarity score of 0.28 to claim the voices were distinct. - Williamson notes that his voice, growing up in Stockton on Tees in Northeast England, possesses unique idiosyncrasies that the AI replicated. - Historical precedents like Bette Midler suing Ford and Tom Waits suing Frito Lay established that unauthorized vocal imitations in commercials are unlawful. - Marc Geyman, managing partner at The Zia Firm, explains that while no specific federal law protects voices, right of publicity laws exist at the state level. - ElevenLabs ultimately removed the Archer voice model from their platform after the issue gained public attention and scrutiny. - Williamson highlights the profound psychological discomfort of hearing an AI clone of oneself used to endorse products or ideas one rejects. ![Screenshot at 07:39: ElevenLabs email response claiming an ENCAPA TDNN similarity score of 0.28, asserting that the Archer voice is distinct from Chris Williamson's voice.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/lxDNHLgWInU/00-07-39.jpg) **Context:** Chris Williamson hosts the popular Modern Wisdom podcast, interviewing thinkers, scientists, and creators. The rapid rise of generative AI voice tools like ElevenLabs has enabled realistic voice cloning for a few dollars, creating severe legal and ethical challenges for content creators whose livelihood depends on their personal voice. ## Detailed Analysis Chris Williamson investigates how his voice ended up as a premier British male voice model on ElevenLabs called Archer. Initially dismissing the resemblance, he grew increasingly disturbed as the AI model began appearing in user-generated content promoting products he does not endorse. Williamson reached out to ElevenLabs and received an official response from their legal team denying any wrongdoing and pointing to a low similarity score test. He consulted attorney Marc Geyman to understand his legal options, discovering that while state right of publicity laws offer some protection against commercial misappropriation, federal laws do not explicitly protect vocal identity. Ultimately, ElevenLabs removed the Archer voice model, but Williamson remains deeply concerned about the lack of regulation and protection for creators against unauthorized AI voice cloning. ### Discovery of the Cloned Voice Williamson recounts how friends and fans first alerted him to an AI narrator on YouTube that sounded identical to him. - A friend sent Williamson a link to a YouTube video about flight MH370 narrated by an AI voice that sounded exactly like him. - The voice clone accurately captured Williamson's specific Northeast English cadence and idiosyncratic pronunciations of words like years and purple. - Williamson realized the voice belonged to Archer, one of the most popular British male voice models on ElevenLabs. ![Screenshot at 01:38: A message from a friend asking Williamson if an AI video about flight MH370 is actually him.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/lxDNHLgWInU/00-01-38.jpg) ### Contacting ElevenLabs and Legal Realities Williamson details his correspondence with ElevenLabs and consults an attorney regarding his rights. - Williamson contacted ElevenLabs about the unauthorized clone and received a formal reply from their legal team denying any wrongdoing. - ElevenLabs cited a technical ENCAPA TDNN similarity test score of 0.28 to argue that Archer and Williamson's voices were distinct. - Attorney Marc Geyman explained that no specific federal law protects vocal identity, leaving creators to rely on state level right of publicity laws. ![Screenshot at 07:06: The official response email from ElevenLabs denying any fraudulent behavior regarding the Archer voice.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/lxDNHLgWInU/00-07-06.jpg) ### Historical Precedents and the Future of Voice AI Williamson reflects on past legal battles over voice imitation and the broader implications for internet creators. - In 1988, Bette Midler successfully sued Ford Motor Company after they hired a backup singer to imitate her voice for a commercial. - Tom Waits won 2.4 million dollars after Frito Lay used a soundalike in an advertisement without his permission. - Williamson concludes that the lack of reliable referees or automated protections for vocal identity leaves everyday internet users vulnerable to exploitation. ![Screenshot at 09:47: Archival footage of Bette Midler performing, referencing her landmark lawsuit against unauthorized vocal imitation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/lxDNHLgWInU/00-09-47.jpg)