US regulates AI-generated voice calls
Modern artificial intelligence has surpassed ChatGPT by producing more than mere text. Nowadays, you can replicate your voice or another person’s to pronounce specific words with numerous free AI tools.
The US government knows this trend could become a windfall for online criminals, so it recently announced a new law against it.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a declaratory ruling that AI-generated voice calls fall under the consent limitations imposed on “artificial or prerecorded voices under the TCPA. In other words, people and companies using AI voice calls must follow specific rules.
What are the rules on AI-generated voice calls?
The United States hasn’t explicitly banned all AI-generated calls. Instead, those using them must follow the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, according to the Declaratory Ruling released on February 8, 2024.
The latter is “In the Matter of Implications of Artificial Intelligence Technologies on Protecting Consumers from Unwanted Robocalls and Robotexts.”
This Ruling states that AI-generated voice calls must follow the rules on “artificial or prerecorded voices.” That means someone sending an AI voice message must get consent by:
- Prior express consent before using an “artificial or prerecorded voice” in a non-marketing call to a phone or cellular line
- Prior express written consent before using an “artificial or prerecorded voice” in marketing calls to residential or cellular lines
AI-generated voice calls must also offer specific information and options, such as:
- A clear statement of the identity of the business making the call
- A clear statement of the business’s phone number
- An automated, interactive voice-activated or key-activated opt-out mechanism, which lets a person make a do-not-call request.
Let’s say someone calls you via AI. That person or group must introduce their business and share their phone number. Then, they must ask if you are willing to speak with an AI-generated voice.
The caller must also let you refuse by saying “no” or pressing a number on your phone. The AI-generated voice call may only start once you give your permission.
The Verge says state attorneys may already pursue people who use AI robocalls based on their scams. However, the ruling allows them to hold scam artists accountable only for using an AI-generated voice.
What are the modern voice AI programs available?
Murf is one of the most popular AI voice generators nowadays. A previous Inquirer Tech article reports it can deliver the following:
- High-quality voiceovers: Murf provides over 120 voices that can read any script. Also, professional voice actors delivered these samples, ensuring superb sound quality.
- Voice changer: As mentioned above, Murf AI has a voice alteration feature that changes how your words sound in uploaded clips.
- Designated studio: The AI program stores your previous works as virtual studio projects you can access later.
- Background noise addition: You can simulate real-world conversations by adding ambient noises.
- Pitch control: The voice pitch option lets you set how deep or high-pitched your voices are. Set it to 1x or lower in the toolbar for a deeper voice or raise the value for female voices.
- Volume and speed adjustment: You can change how loud or soft voices sound and how fast they speak.
- Teachable AI: You can teach Murf how to enunciate words properly via machine learning.
- Grammar assistant: This AI program lets everyone use it, even those anxious about their English proficiency. Murf catches writing issues and corrects them for you.
Larger tech firms like Microsoft made AI programs that can replicate your voice called VALL-E. Another Inq Tech post reported it could “preserve the speaker’s emotion and acoustic environment of the acoustic in synthesis.”
These technologies have positive applications, such as facilitating voiceovers for online lessons and videos. However, they could help malicious people scam folks.
For example, a caller could impersonate someone’s grandmother to have money wired for an emergency.
An unsuspecting victim may send funds immediately to save their loved one.
These cases would likely expand to other countries as AI blends with every facet of daily life. Learn more about the latest digital trends at Inquirer Tech.
