Nicola Coughlan and Matt Lucas among stars backing campaign against AI voice cloning

Nicola Coughlan says she is deeply worried that legislation is not keeping up with the rapid rise of AI technology. Nicola Coughlan says she is deeply worried that legislation is not keeping up with the rapid rise of AI technology. Nicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas are among a group of actors backing a campaign against artificial intelligence voice cloning. Save Our Voices Now, which is also being supported by Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhán McSweeney and Pearl Mackie, aims to stop the practice in which AI technology is used to replicate a real person's voice to say anything it is prompted to. Bonneville, the star of Paddington and Downton Abbey, said: "My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. "The quote was handwritten, not created by AI," he added. About 80 people have added their signatures to an open letter to the prime minister, Andy Burnham, and a Gov.uk petition has been launched to ask for everyone in Britain to be given ownership of their voice as part of their statutory rights. The Derry Girls actor McSweeney said: "I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing.