NPR Host Claims Google Copied His Voice Without Permission

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 Google's NotebookLM artificial intelligence tool features a synthetic voice that's uncomfortably close to his own.

"Listeners Thought It Was Me"

Greene, who now hosts KCRW's "Left, Right & Center," began noticing something strange after NotebookLM launched its podcast feature. "My inbox flooded with messages from colleagues and friends," Greene explained. "They all asked the same question - why was I doing voice work for Google?"

The similarities went beyond just vocal tone. According to Greene, the AI replicated his speech patterns down to characteristic pauses and verbal tics like "um." He describes hearing the synthetic version as deeply unsettling: "It wasn't just similar - it felt like listening to some uncanny version of myself."

Google Denies Using Greene's Voiceprint

When reached for comment, Google representatives firmly rejected Greene's claims. A company spokesperson told The Washington Post that NotebookLM's audio features use recordings from professional actors under contract with Google.

"We take intellectual property rights seriously," the spokesperson said. "The voices in our products are either original creations or properly licensed recordings."

A Growing Legal Gray Area

This isn't the first time an AI company has faced accusations of unauthorized voice replication. Earlier this year, OpenAI removed ChatGPT's "Sky" assistant after complaints it sounded remarkably like Scarlett Johansson.

The cases highlight how advanced synthetic voices have become - and how unprepared existing laws are to handle them. Current copyright protections focus mainly on recordings rather than vocal characteristics themselves.

Legal experts warn we're entering uncharted territory. "The law hasn't caught up with this technology," says media attorney Rachel Goodman. "We're seeing more cases where people feel their very identity is being appropriated."

For broadcasters like Greene whose careers depend on distinctive voices, these developments hit particularly close to home. As he put it: "When someone can push a button and sound like you, what does that mean for your livelihood?"

Key Points:

• David Greene alleges Google's NotebookLM copied his signature vocal style without permission
• Google denies using Greene's voice, saying they hired professional actors
• This follows similar disputes involving celebrity voices and AI systems
• Legal experts say current laws provide limited protection against vocal imitation
• The case could set important precedents for AI-generated content