In the aftermath of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s passing, an innovative group of researchers at CereProc used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to synthesise Bourdain’s voice and create a computer-generated version. This sparked a heated debate on the implications of technology and whether or not it should have been done.
In this article, we’ll weigh the pros and cons of using AI technology and explore the implications of this decision.
Overview of the Project
This project aims to provide an accessible guide to various coffee roast types and their associated flavours. This guide covers the 4 main roast categories: light, medium, medium-dark and dark. Each category contains an overview of the roast, its flavour characteristics and the names usually used to describe it to help you better understand what kind of roast you should choose for your coffee experience. By leveraging this guide, coffee lovers can more easily select and identify different types of coffee roasts according to their preferences.
This guide provides in-depth information about each roast level so that you can decide which one is right for you. Additionally, it contains helpful tips for storing your coffee beans properly and getting the most out of your chosen roast type. Ultimately, this project attempts to provide all necessary information under one roof so that anyone interested can quickly develop a better understanding of the different types and variances enrooted in coffee culture.
AI Technology
AI technology is growing in capability and range as technology continues to advance. The most recent example was when an AI technology was used to synthesise the voice of the late Anthony Bourdain. This technology has the potential for wide usage, but raises ethical questions about its use.
In this article, we will discuss the use of AI technology in synthesising Anthony Bourdain’s voice and will consider the ethical implications of this type of technology.
AI technology is growing in capability and range as technology continues to advance. The most recent example was when an AI technology was used to synthesise the voice of the late Anthony Bourdain.
What is AI?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the ability of machines to take data, analyse it, and use it to make decisions on their own. AI technology has been used in many areas, from health care and transportation to entertainment and financial services. However, one of its most popular applications is creating virtual assistants or digital hosts that respond naturally to people’s spoken conversations. For example, this type of AI-powered technology was used to create the voice of Anthony Bourdain for his CNN show ‘Parts Unknown’.
AI technology is made up of various layers: algorithms, neural networks, natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL). Algorithms are instructions that tell a computer how to process information. Neural networks allow computers to “think” just like humans do by making sophisticated decisions based on data they can access. Natural language processing turns written language into something that a computer can understand and respond to—almost like having an actual conversation with something else. Machine learning allows machines to learn from data provided by humans rather than being explicitly programmed what steps they should take – allowing them to make decisions when presented with new scenarios without input from others. Finally deep learning technologies help computers “learn” what pieces of data are relevant through interactions between layers of artificial neurons connected at various depths for the computer programs to understand their environment better and make more complex decisions than ever before.
AI technology has made leaps and bounds over the last decade – so much so that programming virtual personalities capable of conversing in many realistic ways is now commonplace! For example, combined with audio engineering tools such as vocal meltdowns created Anthony Bourdain’s digital representation for his show ‘Parts Unknown’.
AI Brought Anthony Bourdain’s Voice Back To Life. Should It Have?
In July 2020, the pilot episode of CNN’s “Anthony Bourdain:Parts Unknown” aired posthumously, featuring AI-generated recordings of the chef and author. The technology used to bring Bourdain’s voice back to life resulted from a decade-long effort in machine learning and natural language processing.
The team behind the show collaborated with AI researchers who used an extensive library of past interviews, TV appearances, audio archives and more to synthesise an AI model that could accurately recreate Bourdain’s voice. The team then fed the model new dialogue written by producers familiar with Bourdain’s style before using a custom-made vocal synthesis software to project it through computer speakers.
To ensure accuracy in recreating Bourdain’s unique combination of authoritative Hollywood voiceover quality and conversational style, words were examined by linguists and chefs alike for cultural relevance and how components fit within a conversation. Then, after individual words were corrected for pronunciation, melodies were added in collaboration with music producers so that the final product sounded like something that the same person would have said in real life.
In this way, Artificial Intelligence brought Anthony Bourdain’s distinct voice–one that had previously been lost following his death–back to life on television screens worldwide once again.
Ethical Issues
Recently, artificial intelligence technology has enabled the use of a deceased person’s voice in various forms of media – from commercials to podcasts.
While AI-generated speech can help keep a person’s memory alive, it raises ethical questions. In this piece, we will explore the moral implications of AI-synthesised speech in the context of Anthony Bourdain’s posthumous voice.
Is it Ethical to Use AI to Bring Back the Voices of the Dead?
Anthony Bourdain’s posthumous television program, “Exploring Parts Unknown”, has recently started airing, and it has been reported that AI technology was used to ‘synthesise’ his voice and create dialogue. This raises numerous ethical questions that have yet to be explored in detail; however, the main issues are the implications of using AI to “resurrect” departed individuals for commercial use.
The consensus is that Bourdain explicitly consented his recordings to be used and re-purposed in this way, allowing him to contribute to his lifelong passion even after his death. Despite this agreement, there are still numerous ethical dilemmas surrounding this practice. For instance, how much of the recorded material should be used? In addition, who should have control over how the data is manipulated? Finally, who will benefit from this data mining process outside of providing entertainment for millions worldwide? These are just a few questions that need to be answered before legal or cultural frameworks can begin around this potentially unsettling technology.
AI is one of many emerging technologies that touch upon delicate moral constraints which need prioritisation and care. Scientists, policy makers and citizens must discuss these topics and draw sensible conclusions before these technologies become commonplace in our culture. It will be interesting to see what solutions emerge from these ongoing debates.
Additionally, AI technology could be used posthumously for personal gain where the late celebrity does not benefit from it financially or otherwise.
What Are the Potential Implications of Using AI in This Way?
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to synthesise a person’s voice after their passing has implications that are worthy of consideration. While AI technology can be used to create a computer-generated ‘voice’ that sounds like the late Anthony Bourdain, it also raises ethical questions and potential risks.
Firstly, there is the potential of manipulating users by using a deceased person’s voice without the permission or consent of their estate. Depending on the public’s opinion toward this technique, enabling marketers and businesses to use AI-driven audio clips may become problematic due to its ability to evoke strong emotional engagement. For example, advertisers may adopt this controversial approach to manipulate consumers by appealing to emotion.
Additionally, AI technology could be used posthumously for personal gain where the late celebrity does not benefit from it financially or otherwise. It could also potentially cause unintended harm; for example if people create an ‘AI-file’ (collection of memories and voice recordings) of loved ones and only realise too late that they have retained personal data without authorization or regulatory oversight creating privacy issues.
Moreover, as technologies such as natural language processing (NLP) continue to progress, AI powered conversations with dead people may become more realistic creating further ethical issues. Overall, using AI technology in this way has potential implications that should be considered before it is applied commercially or personally.
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