ScotRail Fixes AI Announcer After Unauthorized Voice Use Allegations

ScotRail is working to address concerns after Scottish voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed its AI train announcer, named Iona, uses her voice without her consent. Potter alleged that the AI voice was created from recordings she made in 2021 for Swedish company ReadSpeaker, and that the company used her biometric voice data outside the terms of her agreement. The issue was raised during First Minister's Questions, where Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane questioned the Scottish Government's approach to supporting actors since ScotRail's public ownership in 2022. First Minister John Swinney confirmed that the Transport Secretary has instructed ScotRail to fix the situation and expressed confidence the rail operator would engage constructively with all parties involved. Ms Potter welcomed this commitment as a meaningful step forward, emphasizing the need for ethical standards in AI voice technology and the importance of informed consent in such uses. The controversy highlights broader concerns about the deployment of AI voices and the rights of artists over their biometric data.