A lawsuit filed by former NPR host David Greene accuses Google of illegally using his voice to train its NotebookLM artificial intelligence product. Greene, who previously hosted NPR’s Morning Edition and now hosts KCRW’s Left, Right & Center, alleges that Google extracted his voice without permission to develop the AI’s audio capabilities.
The Core Allegation
The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, claims that Google used unauthorized recordings of Greene’s voice to “develop, train, and refine” NotebookLM. This AI tool allows users to upload data and generate audio summaries, including AI-created podcasts. Greene says listeners noticed a striking resemblance between the AI-generated voices and his own after the feature launched in late 2024.
Forensic Analysis Supports Claim
Greene engaged an independent forensic software company specializing in voice recognition to investigate. The analysis reportedly showed a 53% to 60% confidence level that his voice was used in the NotebookLM training data. This suggests a significant degree of similarity between the AI’s voice and Greene’s own.
Google Denies Wrongdoing
Google denies the allegations, stating that the voice used in NotebookLM is that of a paid professional actor. However, the company has not publicly identified this actor, raising questions about transparency. A Google spokesperson called the claims “baseless” in a statement to CNET.
Why This Matters
This case highlights a growing concern over AI voice cloning and the lack of legal protections for individuals whose voices may be used without consent. As AI technology advances, the ability to replicate human voices becomes increasingly sophisticated. This raises ethical and legal questions about ownership, privacy, and intellectual property.
The lawsuit could set a legal precedent for how AI companies handle voice data and the potential consequences of unauthorized usage. It also underscores the need for clearer regulations regarding AI-generated content and voice rights.
The dispute may ultimately force Google to disclose how it sources voices for its AI products, which could have broader implications for the tech industry.
