|
VO & AI
Lately, more and more of us are asking the same hard question: "Is it even worth it anymore?" Between the slow encroachment of AI voices, major companies automating what once took skill and soul, and the encroaching feeling thanks to that ol' addage “If you can't beat em, join em,” it’s easy to feel like the odds are stacked. It's easy to wonder if chasing this path - with your heart, your time, your money, and your self - is still worth it. But I want you to hear this, loud and clear: Yes. Your voice is still worth everything. Yes. Your work still matters. Yes. You should keep going—if this is where your heart beats loudest. THE AI THREAT, BUT ... We're in the midst of a technological and creative reckoning. It's not just about losing jobs to AI. It's about the erosion of meaning, the danger of replacing lived-in experience with algorithmic imitation. It’s about the very real threat of your voice being cloned, your work undervalued, your identity borrowed for something you never chose to even say in the first place.. But here's the truth AI can't replicate:
There will always be some people and companies who take shortcuts, those people have been here all along. There will be studios that settle for “good enough.” That chase speed over soul. That use your voice, or a clone of it, without understanding or permission. All just to save a F'n buck! And yes - this industry may get more cutthroat. More competitive. Even some of your acting heroes, from A-list to indie stars, will be eyeing the VO gigs that used to be our everyday bread and butter. You’ll feel the pinch. We all will. Heck, we already are. STILL A NEED FOR YOU But here's the truth that still remains: There will always be a need for you. For a real voice. For a real performance. For someone who shows up, not just signs off. You might not book everything. You might not book as much. But when you do—you’ll know it was you. Not your digital double. Not your shortcut. You. And that moment? That sense of real achievement? That’s irreplaceable. So when you win an award, or when someone asks you to sign something because of one of your characters you voiced, or you get to be on a podcast talking about your work, or when you call mom and say "Hey listen to this, it's ME!" It really will be you, because you put the time in, the effort in and YOU achieved it. Not some machine that didn't earn it. DON'T GIVE IN So no, now is not the time to give in. Now is the time to train harder. To get better. To get sharper. To tell better stories. To be more human than ever. And if this is the new ship we sail on - it'll face some truly rough waters, but it's our ship to steer. Because it's real. And it's ours. And it's worth the voyage. If you're feeling the urge to jump ship and join the AI tide- please don’t. Not because we fear technology, but because we believe in craft. In storytelling. In earning your place at the mic. Training a machine to mimic your voice isn’t the same as doing the work. It won’t challenge you, grow you, or give you the satisfaction of truly becoming a character. There’s still room for humans in this industry. The waters may be choppy, and yes, some will drift toward shortcuts. But the ones who stay, who build their skills and sail through the storm? They’re the ones who’ll keep this art alive. And the work they do will always be more meaningful than anything machine-made. HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ... If you need support, guidance, or a place to grow, tools exist for this moment:
We believe in you. WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW ... What you can do today to rise, resist, and refocus: Sharpen Your Craft
Plug into the Community
Protect Yourself Against AI Exploitation
Let’s not train machines to replace us. Email: jay@jaypreston.com |
By Jay Preston
click for new article alerts