NPR Host Claims Google's AI Stole His Voice

David Greene, the familiar voice behind NPR's "Morning Edition" for years, is taking legal action against tech giant Google. The veteran broadcaster alleges that the male voice generated by Google's NotebookLM artificial intelligence tool bears an uncanny resemblance to his own distinctive vocal style.

"They've Taken My Professional Identity"

The current host of KCRW's "Left, Right & Center" says the controversy began when NotebookLM launched its podcast feature. "My inbox flooded with messages from colleagues and listeners asking if I'd secretly recorded for Google," Greene explained. After listening himself, he became convinced the AI wasn't just similar - it mirrored his speech patterns down to characteristic pauses and verbal tics.

What makes this particularly personal? "Radio hosts aren't just reading scripts - we pour our personalities into every word," Greene told reporters. "That voice represents decades of my professional life."

Google Fires Back

The tech company strongly denies Greene's claims. A spokesperson told The Washington Post that NotebookLM's audio features use voices recorded by professional actors under contract with Google. "We have strict protocols regarding voice acquisition and usage," the representative stated.

This isn't just about one radio personality though. Legal experts see this case as part of a broader pattern emerging in our AI-driven world.

When Machines Sound Too Human

The Greene lawsuit follows another high-profile AI voice controversy earlier this year involving OpenAI and actress Scarlett Johansson. After users noted ChatGPT's "Sky" assistant sounded remarkably like Johansson, the company removed the disputed voice option.

"These cases raise fundamental questions," explains media law professor Elena Carter from Stanford University. "At what point does inspiration become imitation? And who owns the rights to how someone sounds?"

The legal landscape remains murky regarding AI-generated voices that resemble real people without directly copying recordings. While copyright protects specific recordings, the general sound and style of a person's speech exist in a gray area.

For broadcasters like Greene whose careers depend on their distinctive voices, these technological advances pose both practical and existential concerns. As he put it: "If anyone can push a button and sound like me, what does that mean for my profession?"

Key Points:

• Legal Action: NPR veteran David Greene sues Google over alleged unauthorized use of his vocal style in NotebookLM AI
• Similar Cases: Follows OpenAI removing ChatGPT voice that resembled Scarlett Johansson
• Industry Impact: Raises questions about ownership of vocal mannerisms in age of advanced voice cloning tech
• Google Response: Maintains they used properly licensed professional actors